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Nature Research, Nature Communications, 1(4), 2013

DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3435

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Carbon nanotubes on a spider silk scaffold

Journal article published in 2013 by Eden Steven, Wasan R. Saleh, Victor Lebedev, Steve F. A. Acquah ORCID, Vladimir Laukhin, Rufina G. Alamo, James S. Brooks
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

Understanding the compatibility between spider silk and conducting materials is essential to advance the use of spider silk in electronic applications. Spider silk is tough, but becomes soft when exposed to water. Here we report a strong affinity of amine-functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes for spider silk, with coating assisted by a water and mechanical shear method. The nanotubes adhere uniformly and bond to the silk fibre surface to produce tough, custom-shaped, flexible and electrically conducting fibres after drying and contraction. The conductivity of coated silk fibres is reversibly sensitive to strain and humidity, leading to proof-of-concept sensor and actuator demonstrations.