@article {3081,
	title = {Conductive Composite Materials Fabricated from Microbially Produced Protein Nanowires.},
	journal = {Small},
	volume = {14},
	year = {2018},
	month = {2018 Nov},
	pages = {e1802624},
	abstract = {<p>Protein-based electronic materials have numerous potential advantages with respect to sustainability and biocompatibility over electronic materials that are synthesized using harsh chemical processes and/or which contain toxic components. The microorganism Geobacter sulfurreducens synthesizes electrically conductive protein nanowires (e-PNs) with high aspect ratios (3 nm {\texttimes} 10-30 {\textmu}m) from renewable organic feedstocks. Here, the integration of G. Sulfurreducens e-PNs into poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a host polymer matrix is described. The resultant e-PN/PVA composites exhibit conductivities comparable to PVA-based composites containing synthetic nanowires. The relationship between e-PN density and conductivity of the resultant composites is consistent with percolation theory. These e-PNs confer conductivity to the composites even under extreme conditions, with the highest conductivities achieved from materials prepared at pH 1.5 and temperatures greater than 100 {\textdegree}C. These results demonstrate that e-PNs represent viable and sustainable nanowire compositions for the fabrication of electrically conductive composite materials.</p>},
	keywords = {Geobacter, Nanocomposites, Nanowires, Polymers},
	issn = {1613-6829},
	doi = {10.1002/smll.201802624},
	author = {Sun, Yun-Lu and Tang, Hai-Yan and Ribbe, Alexander and Duzhko, Volodimyr and Woodard, Trevor L and Ward, Joy E and Bai, Ying and Nevin, Kelly P and Nonnenmann, Stephen S and Russell, Thomas and Emrick, Todd and Lovley, Derek R}
}
