FE-SEM micrographs of chitosan-based composite films with
different GFSE contents and pure chitosan film (CG0) are shown in
Fig. 1. The micrographs revealed significant differences in surface
morphology at different amounts of GFSE incorporated in the
fabricated films. With increasing GFSE contents from 1.0% v/v
GFSE (CG2) to 1.5% v/v GFSE (CG3), larger areas of heterogeneity
with a more rugous surface was observed (Fig. 1c and d). The
significantly larger rugous surface for CG3 as compared to
CG2 could possibly be due to the hydrophilicity of GFSE. More
moisture might be absorbed when a larger amount of GFSE is
incorporated within the film matrix [15]. It was also noted that
though both CG2 and CG3 were heterogeneous, the surface
morphology of the films was uniform, suggesting that GFSE was
well dispersed within all chitosan film matrices (CG1, CG2 and
CG3).