Spider Silk/Polyaniline Composite Wire

Spider silk has been studied recently because of its tremendous strength and flexibility [1]. Biotechnology now opens possibilities for the application of spider silk [2–7]. We describe a new avenue for the application of spider silk in textile science and industry. Recently, spider silk/carbon nanotube composites have been prepared, and their mechanical and electrical properties characterized. For example, textile transistors were fabricated with a silk/carbon nanotube composite [8]. Combinations of organic conductors and spider silk might realize organic molecular wires with electrical conduction, light emission, and photovoltaic functions. Polyaniline (PANI) is one of the most promising electrically conducting polymers because of its moderate electrical conduction, anticorrosive function, and convenient water-based synthetic process. The combination of natural fibers and conducting polymers can produce biocompatible materials [9]. A new achievement reported here is the preparation of a biosynthetic composite consisting of spider silk as a high performance natural silk with PANI as a conducting polymer.