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Caption:
One of the isolated fibers sticking out of the surface of a fiber cluster can be seen in focus while the fibrous network can be observed in the background.
Sahil Tahiliani
Advisor: Dr. Sara Brenner
SUNY Polytechnic Institute Colleges of Nanoscale Science & Engineering
Nanobioscience Constellation
Albany, NY
Laboratory website: https://sunypoly.edu/research/team-brenner/
Technique:
The fiber sample was covered with a thin layer of gold/palladium mixture for imaging with an electron microscope. The fiber was dehydrated and kept in a vacuum chamber before coating and then placed onto a sample mount for imaging. This image was taken using a LEO scanning electron microscope (SEM).
Description:
Filters are used for occupational exposure assessment studies to capture materials found in air or on surfaces for analysis by advanced imaging techniques. Viscose fiber stood out as an excellent candidate while testing various fiber materials for convenient and stress-free sample preparation for optical and electron microscopy since it easily dissolves in water and is quickly and easily prepared for electron microscopy. Sample preparation for traditional filters of other composition is typically time-consuming and often difficult. The single string of fiber seen here resembles a snake wagging its bifid tongue while sensing its environment. The immaculate details of the fiber, as seen through an SEM, are extraordinary.
Funding Source: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the NanoHealth & Safety Center, New York State
