Poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan oligosaccharide blend submicrometer fibers prepared from aqueous solutions by the electrospinning method

Submicrometer fibers of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and chitosan oligosaccharide [COS; i.e., (1→4)‐2‐amino‐2‐deoxy‐β‐D‐glucose] were prepared by an electrospinning method with aqueous solutions with polymer concentrations of 7.5–15 wt %. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize the morphology and properties of the PVA/COS fibers. The PVA/COS mass ratio, the total polymer concentration, and processing parameters such as the applied voltage and capillary‐to‐collector distance played important roles in controlling the fiber morphology. Fourier transform infrared and X‐ray diffraction data demonstrated that there were possibly hydrogen bonds between COS and PVA molecules that weakened the interactions in COS and improved the electrospinnability of PVA/COS. Moreover, with a higher percentage of COS in the PVA/COS blend fibers, superior thermal stability could be obtained.