Figure 3: Hierarchical structure formation according to XRD.

(a) X-ray diffractograms of M0–M5 along with the deconvolution of the three main reflections at 2θ=13.7°–14.7° (short-range order of PIB), 16.1°–16.8° (β-sheet stacking) and around 21° (intermolecular distance within β-sheets). (b) The normalized intensity of the reflection at 2θ=16.1°–16.8° (relative to the one at 13.7°–14.7°) as a function of the number of L-alanine repeating units n. (c) SAXS curves of samples of M0–M5 on a polyimide support (scattering peak at q=3.95 nm⁻¹ due to the support). (d) Schematic illustrations of cross-sections of single β-sheet tapes or nanofibrils composed of three to five stacked β-sheet tapes, and the volumes of cylinder slices (blue) with a thickness corresponding to the intermolecular distance.