Relationship between composition and structure in chitosan-based hybrid films

Chitosan/poly (aminopropylsiloxane) hybrid films were obtained by blending 3-(aminopropyl)siloxane oligomers (pAPS) with chitosan (CHI). The pAPS olig omers were prepared by the sol-gel method starting from 3-(aminopropyl)trie thoxysilane. These hybrids were characterized by chemical, spectroscopic an d morphological methods. Scanning electron micrographs of hybrid films of d ifferent composition revealed an organized microscopic pattern suggesting t he existence of systematic interactions among their components. Comparison of the thermal stabilities and X-ray diffraction patterns as well as FT-IR spectra of the films with those of the pure components revealed that nanoco mposites were formed. Similar studies of films including lithium perchlorat e, as a third component, showed that addition of certain amount of lithium ions affected the structure of the CHI/pAPS films. When addition of the lit hium salt exceeded the homogeneous incorporation limit, a little excess gen erated anisotropically oriented patterns in the hybrid films.