Journal of Engineered Fibers and Fabrics · 2011 · 21 citations · 14 references
Natural SciencesMaterials EngineeringMaterials ScienceMaterials ChemistrySurface ChemistrySurface ScienceAtomic Force MicroscopyIntermolecular ForcesNanostructured SurfacesSurface ChargeSurface MicroscopySurface PhysicsAmino AcidsAtomic Force Microscopy Surface AnalysisForce SpectroscopySurface Charge CharacterizationSurface Charge MappingSurface Charge MeasurementSurface Force MeasurementsSurface Forces
In this study, we have mapped the surface charge of wool fibers using chemically specific high-resolution force spectroscopy in order to better understand the dispersion of amino acids in relation to fiber morphology. The inter-surface forces between standard atomic force microscopy (AFM) probe tips (tip radius ~ 50 nm) functionalized with COOH and NH(3) terminated alkanethiol self assembling monolayers and the wool surface were used to estimate the surface charge per unit area using linear Poisson-Boltzmann-based electrostatic double layer theory. The positional measurement of nano-scale surface charge showed a correlation between the surface charge and fiber morphology, indicated that basic amino acids are located near the scale edges.
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