Optically transparent fibroin nanofiber (FNF) paper was obtained without using binders by passing a fibroin suspension through a mechanical nanofibrillation process using a water-jet. The optical transmittance of the nanofiber paper increased with the number of passes through the water-jet and reached 79.3% and 80.3% of light at 600 nm after 15 and 30 passes, respectively. The fibroin of the transparent nanopaper remained fibrous with a native β-sheet secondary structure. Therefore, the transparent nanopaper showed a high elastic modulus, high thermal durability, and low thermal expansion. This novel protein material, which can be fabricated without toxic chemicals or organic solvents, is bio-friendly and shows promise for new applications in biocompatible photonic devices.

通过使用水射流将丝心蛋白悬浮液通过机械纳米原纤化过程，在不使用粘合剂的情况下获得了光学透明的丝心蛋白纳米纤维 (FNF) 纸。纳米纤维纸的透光率随着通过水射流的次数而增加， 15 次和 30 次后分别达到 600 nm光的 79.3% 和 80.3% 。透明纳米纸的丝心蛋白保持纤维状，具有天然的β-折叠二级结构。因此，透明纳米纸表现出高弹性模量、高热耐久性和低热膨胀。这种新型蛋白质材料可以在没有有毒化学品或有机溶剂的情况下制造，具有生物友好性，并有望在生物相容性光子器件中获得新应用。