Characterization structure and properties of self-assemblies regenerated silk Fibroin/Ti3C2Tx composites

Silk is a natural protein fiber whose multifunctional properties can be endowed through functional modification or incorporation of functional nanoparticles into regenerated silk fibroin (RSF). In this study, a synergistic modification strategy was proposed to fabricate high-performance RSF/TA/Ca 2+ /MXene composite films by combining tannic acid (TA) deposition, Ca 2+ -induced conformational transition, and two-dimensional MXene nanosheet reinforcement. FTIR and synchrotron radiation WAXD analyses revealed that the β-sheet content induced by Ca 2+ was significantly increased from 32.62% (pure RSF), while the introduction of MXene further optimized the β-sheet content to 41.75% (20% MXene). TGA results demonstrated that the thermal stability of the composite films improved with increasing MXene content, with the residual mass at 600 °C increasing from 30.07% (pure RSF) to 41.75% (20% MXene). Tensile tests showed that the tensile strength of the composite films was significantly enhanced, while the elongation at break decreased accordingly. This work elucidates the synergistic regulation mechanism of TA/Ca 2+ /MXene on the secondary structure and thermomechanical properties of silk fibroin, providing a new strategy for the development of high-performance silk-based functional materials.