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Establishing superfine nanofibrils for robust polyelectrolyte artificial spider silk and powerful artificial muscles

Author

Listed:
  • Wenqian He

    (Nankai University)

  • Meilin Wang

    (Nankai University)

  • Guangkai Mei

    (Nankai University)

  • Shiyong Liu

    (Nankai University)

  • Abdul Qadeer Khan

    (Nankai University)

  • Chao Li

    (Nankai University)

  • Danyang Feng

    (Nankai University)

  • Zihao Su

    (Nankai University)

  • Lili Bao

    (China Pharmaceutical University)

  • Ge Wang

    (Nankai University)

  • Enzhao Liu

    (The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University)

  • Yutian Zhu

    (Hangzhou Normal University)

  • Jie Bai

    (Inner Mongolia University of Technology)

  • Meifang Zhu

    (Donghua University)

  • Xiang Zhou

    (China Pharmaceutical University)

  • Zunfeng Liu

    (Nankai University)

Abstract

Spider silk exhibits an excellent combination of high strength and toughness, which originates from the hierarchical self-assembled structure of spidroin during fiber spinning. In this work, superfine nanofibrils are established in polyelectrolyte artificial spider silk by optimizing the flexibility of polymer chains, which exhibits combination of breaking strength and toughness ranging from 1.83 GPa and 238 MJ m−3 to 0.53 GPa and 700 MJ m−3, respectively. This is achieved by introducing ions to control the dissociation of polymer chains and evaporation-induced self-assembly under external stress. In addition, the artificial spider silk possesses thermally-driven supercontraction ability. This work provides inspiration for the design of high-performance fiber materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenqian He & Meilin Wang & Guangkai Mei & Shiyong Liu & Abdul Qadeer Khan & Chao Li & Danyang Feng & Zihao Su & Lili Bao & Ge Wang & Enzhao Liu & Yutian Zhu & Jie Bai & Meifang Zhu & Xiang Zhou & Zunf, 2024. "Establishing superfine nanofibrils for robust polyelectrolyte artificial spider silk and powerful artificial muscles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-47796-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47796-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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