Large-scale fabrication of two-dimensional spider-web-like gelatin nano-nets via electro-netting

For the first time, two-dimensional (2D) gelatin nano-nets are fabricated by regulating the solution properties and several process parameters during electrospinning/electro-netting. The spider-web-like nano-nets that comprise interlinked one-dimensional (1D) ultrathin nanowires (10–35 nm) are stacked layer-by-layer and widely distributed in the three-dimensional (3D) porous membranes. The final morphology of the gelatin nano-nets, including nanowire diameter, area density and pore-width of the nano-nets, is highly dependent on the solution concentration, salt concentration, kinds of solvents, applied voltage, ambient temperature and relative humidity (RH). The occurrence of rapid phase separation on the splitting-film and the formation of hydrogen bond among gelatin molecules during electro-netting are proposed as the possible mechanisms for the formation of these spider-web-like nano-nets.

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► Large-scale spider-web-like gelatin nano-nets (∼35 nm) were successfully fabricated via electro-netting.
► The formation of nano-net could be well controlled by regulating the solution properties and several process parameters during electrospinning/electro-netting.
► Nano-nets create enhanced interconnectivity and additional surface area which may have potential application in the field of biomaterials, tissue engineering and ultra-fine filters.