Designing water vapor fuelled brine-silk cocoon protein bio-battery for a self-lighting kettle and water-vapor panels.

ABSTRACT: Water vapor increases the electrical conductivity of silk cocoons, human hair, jute, and corn silk. This phenomenon is unclear. In the present study, XPS analysis of cocoons showed that water vapor reduces the surface presence of low-energy carbon species (C-C, C-H). In contrast, electron-dense, high-energy carbon species (C-N, C=C, C=O) remained unchanged, possibly enhancing surface charge hopping. While water vapor improves the conduction, the deficiency of charge carrier diminishes the effect. We increase the charge carrier by soaking the cocoon in an aqueous solution of common salt (NaCl) to amplify the current. Salt treatment followed by 2-min exposure to water vapor results in a sharp upward spike in the current (3.6 ± 1.07 mA, n = 12; mean ± SE) from the baseline (0.06 ± 0.02 mA, n 

SUBMITTER: Jangir H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9385712 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature