Spider Silk and Electrical Conductivity?

This is no figment of a scientist’s imagination, and research revealed that when scientists wrapped spider silk in carbon nanotubes, they got eco-friendly wires.

And what is more they could also conduct electricity when they were bent. Researchers adhered the carbon nanotubes to the spider silk with a drop of water, which led to creation of wires from the materials.

Toxic Concerns About Carbon Nanotubes
Due to the structural similarity of carbon nanotubes to asbestos, Safety fears have been alleviated following research showing that reducing their length removes their toxic properties.

"It turns out that this high-grade, remarkable material has many functions," said Eden Steven, one of the researchers. It can be used as a humidity sensor, a strain sensor, an actuator (a device that acts as an artificial muscle, for lifting weights and more) and as an electrical wire."

"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.The nanotubes adhere uniformly and bond to the silk fiber surface to produce tough, custom-shaped, flexible and electrically conducting fibers after drying and contraction,”researchers said.

Nanotubes can be Monitored Non-Invasively in Live Cells
A non-invasive method of monitoring both metallic and semiconducting nanotubes within cells and blood plasma has been developed by Purdue researchers.

Source-Medindia

Scientists are Now Able to Control Chirality in Carbon Nanotubes
Ability to synthesise single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with controlled chiralities is an ultimate goal in the field of carbon nanotube research.