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).