Ultrastrong and fatigue-resistant bioinspired conductive fibers via the in situ biosynthesis of bacterial cellulose

Zhang-Chi Ling; Huai-Bin Yang; Zi-Meng Han; Zhan Zhou; Kun-Peng Yang; Wen-Bin Sun; De-Han Li; Hao-Cheng Liu; Chong-Han Yin; Qing-Fang Guan; Shu-Hong Yu

doi:10.1038/s41427-023-00461-4

NPG Asia Materials (Mar 2023)

Ultrastrong and fatigue-resistant bioinspired conductive fibers via the in situ biosynthesis of bacterial cellulose

Zhang-Chi Ling,
Huai-Bin Yang,
Zi-Meng Han,
Zhan Zhou,
Kun-Peng Yang,
Wen-Bin Sun,
De-Han Li,
Hao-Cheng Liu,
Chong-Han Yin,
Qing-Fang Guan,
Shu-Hong Yu

Affiliations

Zhang-Chi Ling: Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomimetic Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China
Huai-Bin Yang: Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomimetic Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China
Zi-Meng Han: Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomimetic Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China
Zhan Zhou: Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomimetic Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China
Kun-Peng Yang: Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomimetic Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China
Wen-Bin Sun: Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomimetic Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China
De-Han Li: Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomimetic Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China
Hao-Cheng Liu: Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomimetic Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China
Chong-Han Yin: Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomimetic Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China
Qing-Fang Guan: Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomimetic Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China
Shu-Hong Yu: Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomimetic Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41427-023-00461-4
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 15, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Abstract High-performance functional fibers play a critical role in various indispensable fields, including sensing, monitoring, and display. It is desirable yet challenging to develop conductive fibers with excellent mechanical properties for practical applications. Herein, inspired by the exquisite fascicle structure of skeletal muscle, we constructed a high-performance bacterial cellulose (BC)/carbon nanotube (CNT) conductive fiber through in situ biosynthesis and enhancement of structure and interaction. The biosynthesis strategy achieves the in situ entanglement of CNTs in the three-dimensional network of BC through the deposition of CNTs during the growth of BC. The structure enhancement through physical wet drawing and the interaction enhancement through chemical treatment facilitate orientation and bridging of components, respectively. Owing to the ingenious design, the obtained composite fibers integrate high strength (939 MPa), high stiffness (52.3 GPa), high fatigue resistance, and stable electrical performance, making them competitive for constructing fiber-based smart devices for practical applications.

Published in NPG Asia Materials

ISSN: 1884-4057 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: Japan
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials; Technology: Chemical technology: Biotechnology
Website: https://www.nature.com/am/

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