Fabrication and interfacial characterization of rGO/CS/PVA nanocomposite films for enhanced food preservation

This study reports the fabrication and characterization of a multifunctional active food-packaging material based on electrospun polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibrous membranes. The membranes were fabricated through electrospinning after dispersing rGO (Reduced graphene oxide) and CS (Chitosan) in a PVA solution, followed by structural characterization using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. SEM analysis revealed the formation of uniform, compact nanofibers and validated the strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding and successful incorporation of all components. The ternary rGO/CS/PVA nanocomposite membranes exhibited superior mechanical performance, characterized by a significant increase in tensile strength and excellent flexibility compared with pure PVA and binary composites. Notably, the incorporation of rGO resulted in a 5.9-fold increase in UV absorption capability compared to neat PVA, establishing an effective optical barrier against UV-induced oxidative degradation. Antibacterial assays confirmed that the membranes effectively inhibited Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus , validating their strong antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, fruit preservation experiments using strawberries revealed that the rGO/CS/PVA film substantially delayed microbial spoilage, reduced shrinkage, and maintained fruit quality over a 10-day storage period. These findings indicate that the electrospun rGO/CS/PVA nanocomposite membranes are a promising, cost-effective, and multifunctional platform for active food-packaging applications, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional synthetic materials.