Silkworms Fed with Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene Produce Super-Strong, Electrically Conductive Silk

In a study published in Nano Letters, researchers have made silk which is stronger, tougher and electrically conductive by feeding carbon nanotubes and graphene to silkworms. A water-based solution made up of as little as 0.2% (by weight) of graphene was needed to make the enhanced silk withstand 50% more stress than ordinary silk before breaking. This super-strong silk fiber has applications in wearable electronics, fabrics and medical implants.