Bioinspired Superelastic Electroconductive Fiber for Wearable Electronics.

Abstract

Electroconductive fibers (E-fibers) with excellent flexibility and elasticity are crucial for the advancement of smart textiles for wearable electronics. However, the current metal-based conductive wires are not capable of satisfying the practical demands attributing to their limited stretchability and inferior antiabrasion ability. Herein, we report a superelastic and electroconductive fiber with a spring-like structure, inspired by the unique coiled tendril structures of climbing plants. The E-fiber is constructed by wrapping a flexible yet conductive carbon nanotube/polydimethylsiloxane (CNT/PDMS) composite yarn onto a polyester filament. In this system, the polyester filament provides mechanical robustness and stretchability, while the coiled CNT/PDMS composite yarn (C/P CY) offers sufficient conductivity. Notably, the as-fabricated E-fiber possesses high stretchability (165%), exceptional tensile force (660 cN), extraordinary antiabrasion ability, and remarkable electrical stability under various deformations. In addition, the great air permeability and electrothermal stability are also achieved, which are essential for comfortable wear and steady conduction. The developed E-fiber based on CNT composite wrapping yarn, together with its exceptional mechanical and electrical performance, provides the material with promising prospects for practical applications in wearable electronics.