Artificial Metal-Ion Doped Spider Silk Fibers with Excellent Mechanical Property and Humidity-Driven Actuator Property

Abstract

Natural spider silk has received significant attention owing to its exceptional mechanical properties. Nonetheless, achieving mass production of natural spider silk remains challenging due to its inherent biological constraints. In this study, a dry spinning technique is developed and successfully synthesized cadmium ions dopped regenerated spider silk fibers with high yields and simplicity. These artificial fibers exhibit superior mechanical strength with a Young's modulus of up to 15.39 GPa, surpassing most natural spider tow fibers, and are capable of supporting up to 12 500 times their own weight when they are woven into webs. The regenerated spider silk fibers have a shape memory effect in response to water, attributed to alterations in their secondary structures. High-performance regenerated spider silk fibers hold promising applications in diverse fields, including smart textiles, rotary brakes, and hygrometers.