Scientists make new 'green' electronic polymer-based films with protein nanowires

A team at UMass Amherst has produced a new class of electronic materials that may lead to a 'green,' more sustainable future in biomedical and environmental sensing, say research leaders microbiologist Derek Lovley and polymer scientist Todd Emrick. They say the work shows it is possible to combine protein nanowires with a polymer to produce a flexible electronic composite material that retains the electrical conductivity and unique sensing capabilities of protein nanowires.