Scientists fed graphine to silkworms and now they can spin silk that conducts electricity.
What a time to be alive.
Silk is already well known for its strength, but scientists want to see how far they can take it.
Carbon nanotubes and graphene are the two materials researchers at China’s Tsinghua University fed to Bombyx mori larval silkworms by spraying a solution onto mulberry leaves.
The silk turned out to be twice the strength of normal silk, with the ability to withstand at least 50 percent higher stress before breaking.
Part of the experiment including “carbonising” the silk protien by heating the fibres at 1,050°C. After the treatment, the silk could conduct electricity.
Silkworms can spin super-tough, electricity conducting silk.
Happy Monday, everyone.
[ACS]