title: Electricity from the silk cocoon membrane.
abstract: Silk cocoon membrane (SCM) is an insect engineered structure. We studied the electrical properties of mulberry (Bombyx mori) and non-mulberry (Tussar, Antheraea mylitta) SCM. When dry, SCM behaves like an insulator. On absorbing moisture, it generates electrical current, which is modulated by temperature. The current flowing across the SCM is possibly ionic and protonic in nature. We exploited the electrical properties of SCM to develop simple energy harvesting devices, which could operate low power electronic systems. Based on our findings, we propose that the temperature and humidity dependent electrical properties of the SCM could find applications in battery technology, bio-sensor, humidity sensor, steam engines and waste heat management.
authors: 1] Bioelectricity, Green Energy, Physiology & Sensor Group, Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, UP, 208016, India [2].
authors: Brindan
authors: B
authors: Tulachan
authors: 1] Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, UP, 208016, India [2].
authors: Sunil Kumar
authors: SK
authors: Meena
authors: Center for Biomedical Research, SGPGIMS Campus, Raebareli Road, Lucknow, UP, 226014, India.
authors: Ratan Kumar
authors: RK
authors: Rai
authors: Bioelectricity, Green Energy, Physiology & Sensor Group, Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, UP, 208016, India.
authors: Chandrakant
authors: C
authors: Mallick
authors: Bioelectricity, Green Energy, Physiology & Sensor Group, Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, UP, 208016, India.
authors: Tejas Sanjeev
authors: TS
authors: Kusurkar
authors: Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering & Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, UP, 208016, India.
authors: Arun Kumar
authors: AK
authors: Teotia
authors: Peptide and Proteomics Unit, Defense Institute Physiology and Allied Sciences, Defense Research Development Organization, Delhi, 110054, India.
authors: Niroj Kumar
authors: NK
authors: Sethy
authors: Peptide and Proteomics Unit, Defense Institute Physiology and Allied Sciences, Defense Research Development Organization, Delhi, 110054, India.
authors: Kalpana
authors: K
authors: Bhargava
authors: Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, UP, 208016, India.
authors: Shantanu
authors: S
authors: Bhattacharya
authors: Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering & Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, UP, 208016, India.
authors: Ashok
authors: A
authors: Kumar
authors: Department of Chemistry, Delhi University, Delhi, 110007, India.
authors: Raj Kishore
authors: RK
authors: Sharma
authors: Center for Biomedical Research, SGPGIMS Campus, Raebareli Road, Lucknow, UP, 226014, India.
authors: Neeraj
authors: N
authors: Sinha
authors: Functional Materials Group, Solid State Physics Laboratory, Defense Research Development Organization, Delhi, 110054, India.
authors: Sushil Kumar
authors: SK
authors: Singh
authors: 1] Bioelectricity, Green Energy, Physiology & Sensor Group, Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, UP, 208016, India [2] Design Program, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur, UP, 208016, India.
authors: Mainak
authors: M
authors: Das
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D012831:Bombyx / Q000737:chemistry*; D058266:Dielectric Spectroscopy; D004560:Electricity; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006813:Humidity; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009036:Moths / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D047011:Silk / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D047011:Silk