Electroactive aniline tetramer-spider silks with conductive and electrochromic functionality

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Textile Science

Background:

• Spider silk is known for its exceptional mechanical strength and unique properties.
• Developing advanced functional materials from natural biopolymers is an ongoing research area.
• Electroactive materials are crucial for applications in electronics and sensors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop electroactive composite fibers using spider silk and aniline tetramer.
• To impart high electrical conductivity and electrochromic properties to spider silk.
• To explore the potential of these composite fibers for electronic textiles (E-textiles).

Main Methods:

• Dip coating method was employed to modify spider silk fibers with aniline tetramer.
• Characterization of mechanical strength, conductivity, and electrochromic behavior.
• Testing the ability of composite fibers to conduct electricity and light LEDs.

Main Results:

• Composite fibers exhibited high mechanical strength (0.92 GPa) and retained spider silk's relaxation-contraction behavior.
• Aniline tetramer modification successfully imparted electroactive properties and conductivity (186 Ω m resistivity).
• Color of the composite fibers was controllable via pH and voltage, enabling electrochromic functionality.

Conclusions:

• The developed aniline tetramer-spider silk composite fibers offer a promising platform for advanced functional textiles.
• These fibers demonstrate high conductivity and electrochromic properties suitable for E-textiles.
• The study provides a guideline for creating highly conductive, electrochromic spider silks.