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Conductive Composite Materials Fabricated from Microbially Produced Protein Nanowires
Author(s) -
Sun YunLu,
Tang HaiYan,
Ribbe Alexander,
Duzhko Volodimyr,
Woodard Trevor L.,
Ward Joy E.,
Bai Ying,
Nevin Kelly P.,
nenmann Stephen S.,
Russell Thomas,
Emrick Todd,
Lovley Derek R.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201802624
Subject(s) - materials science , nanowire , composite number , geobacter sulfurreducens , vinyl alcohol , electrical conductor , conductivity , biocompatibility , fabrication , composite material , conductive polymer , polymer , nanotechnology , percolation (cognitive psychology) , nanocomposite , chemical engineering , chemistry , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology , biofilm , biology , bacteria , engineering , metallurgy , genetics , neuroscience
Protein‐based electronic materials have numerous potential advantages with respect to sustainability and biocompatibility over electronic materials that are synthesized using harsh chemical processes and/or which contain toxic components. The microorganism Geobacter sulfurreducens synthesizes electrically conductive protein nanowires (e‐PNs) with high aspect ratios (3 nm × 10–30 µm) from renewable organic feedstocks. Here, the integration of G. Sulfurreducens e‐PNs into poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a host polymer matrix is described. The resultant e‐PN/PVA composites exhibit conductivities comparable to PVA‐based composites containing synthetic nanowires. The relationship between e‐PN density and conductivity of the resultant composites is consistent with percolation theory. These e‐PNs confer conductivity to the composites even under extreme conditions, with the highest conductivities achieved from materials prepared at pH 1.5 and temperatures greater than 100 °C. These results demonstrate that e‐PNs represent viable and sustainable nanowire compositions for the fabrication of electrically conductive composite materials.