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Strong MXene Induced Conductive Silk Fibers
Yanyan Jia1,2,3, Junsong Fu1,2,3, Zejun Zhang1,2,3
1State Key Laboratory of Bioinspired Interfacial Materials Science, School of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|May 15, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed strong, conductive silk fibers (CSFs) by coating them with MXene/sodium alginate. These advanced materials offer superior electrical conductivity and mechanical strength for wearable electronics and smart textiles.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Biomaterials Engineering
Background:
- Conductive silk fibers (CSFs) are promising for flexible electronics but face challenges in enhancing both conductivity and mechanical strength.
- Existing modification methods for silk fibers often compromise either electrical or mechanical properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a continuous fabrication strategy for strong, conductive silk fibers (CSFs) with enhanced properties.
- To create MXene-induced conductive silk fibers (MCSFs) inspired by natural silk's core-sheath structure.
Main Methods:
- A bioinspired strategy was employed, replacing the sericin sheath of silk fibers (SFs) with a MXene/sodium alginate (MSA) layer.
- Strong interfacial interactions, including hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions, were utilized to bridge the sheath and core.
Main Results:
- The fabricated MCSFs demonstrated exceptional tensile strength (1037.9 MPa) and electrical conductivity (6400 S m⁻¹).
- These MCSFs exhibited high toughness (194.9 MJ m⁻³) and an ultra-sensitive gauge factor (2269.3).
- The material showed real-time monitoring capabilities for human pulse, body movements, and ambient humidity changes.
Conclusions:
- The continuous fabrication of ultra-strong and tough MCSFs offers a novel approach for functionalizing silk fibers.
- This advancement paves the way for next-generation wearable technologies, intelligent textiles, and human-machine interfaces.
