Multifunctional Textiles Research Articles

Multifunctional and Reconfigurable Electronic Fabrics Assisted by Artificial Intelligence for Human Augmentation

Multifunctional and Reconfigurable Electronic Fabrics Assisted by Artificial Intelligence for Human Augmentation

Highly Flexible, Durable, Thermally Stable Multi-Functional Carbon Fabric Applications for Wearable Electronics

In recent years, wearable heaters have attracted widespread attention for applications in personal heating systems and healthcare management, such as thermotherapy of textiles/clothing. In addition, flexible gas sensors are important components of wearable electronic devices used for human safety and healthcare applications. However, the current low flexibility and poor stability of the materials limit their use. In this paper, among various textile materials, the carbon fabric based high-efficiency flexible heater with its own excellent conductivity, which does not contain additives from the manufacturing state, and a sensor using the same. In order to evaluate the performance of the heater, the heating temperature and power according to the applied voltage were analyzed. Also, the temperature distribution of the carbon fabric was observed using a thermal camera. The highly flexible fabric heater is based on a uniformly interconnected carbon fiber network that efficiently and quickly heats the heater with low input power. In addition, it presents a new carbon fabric gas sensor composed of pure carbon fiber itself without additives. The carbon fabric shows a sensitive response to NO2 (24.4%@5ppm) at room temperature, and with an extreme bending radius of 3mm, it shows excellent mechanical reliability against repeated deformations over 1,000 bending cycles. The carbon fabric sensors are extremely flexible and durable even after bending, providing a stable resistance to the sensor base material. The results could be attractive to development of flexible, room temperature operable fabric based wearable gas sensing platforms.

A flame-retardant and conductive fabric-based triboelectric nanogenerator: Application in fire alarm and emergency evacuation

The fabrics commonly used in architectural decorative materials pose significant fire hazards due to their flammability and rapid fire spread. Moreover, the traditional fire-alarm systems may fail to function properly in complex fire environments owing to power supply disruptions. In this study, we developed a low-cost and eco-friendly flame-retardant conductive fabric-based triboelectric nanogenerator (FCF-TENG) by integrating flame-retardant conductive nylon fabric and polytetrafluoroethylene soaked cotton fabric. This nanogenerator exhibits excellent flame-retardant properties and remarkable energy-harvesting capabilities. The nylon fabric, treated with layer-by-layer self-assembly method, possesses outstanding self-extinguishing capability and melt-dripping resistance. Additionally, the electrical performance of FCF-TENG significantly improves, with a 10-fold boost in conductivity, and the open-circuit voltage increases by 84% to 92 V. Besides, by incorporating the rectifier circuit, the FCF-TENG is capable of completely charging a 1 μF capacitor within 30 s. Furthermore, the FCF-TENG was successfully applied as a self-powered sensor in the fire-alarm system and served as a safety exit indicator for evacuees and fire rescue. This work presents an effective and innovative application of multifunctional smart textiles for energy harvesting and self-powered sensing.

Thread-analogous elastic fibers with liquid metal core by drawing at room temperature for multifunctional smart textiles

Stretchable and elastic conductive fibers with liquid metal core are appealing for integration into electronic fabrics and clothing, owing to their inherent electrical conductivity even under strain. Previously, injecting liquid metal into core of hollow elastic fiber has been utilized to fabricate conductive fibers, however, hydrodynamics limits the extent to which metals can be injected, thus limiting length and cross-sectional area. Although direct printing and spinning methods using coaxial needles have been utilized to fabricate long and thin polymer-encased liquid metal fibers via single step, various parameters including extrusion rate along with viscosity and surface tension of liquid metal and polymeric shell, needs to be considered. Herein, we introduce a simple and facile method for fabricating thread analogous conductive fibers by plastically deforming liquid metal injected polymeric shell via drawing at room temperature. This simple yet effective process generates long conductive fibers with narrow cross-sectional area of the liquid metal wire continuously formed along its length. The obtained fiber can withstand deformation arising from daily activities while maintaining excellent electrical performance, thus can be used for fabricating smart textiles serving multitude of purposes.

Heterostructured MXene/alginate coating for fire warning and protection: Preparation and characterization

Cotton fabrics with intelligent fire warning and protection have promising applications in smart wearables and smart home decoration. In this study, multifunctional nanoparticles (M@A) with heterogeneous structures are constructed through the electrostatic self-assembly of core-shell structured silver nanowires (AgNW@BP) and MXene nanosheets. Subsequently, M@A is blended with bio-based sodium alginate (SA) to prepare multifunctional cotton fabrics that exhibit fire warning, thermal conductivity, high strength, and flame retardancy. For instance, the tensile strength of the multifunctional fabric is 58.5 MPa, surpassing that of some MXene paper/films used for fire warning (~10 MPa). Furthermore, the catalytic charring effect of AgNW@BP and the labyrinth effect of MXene synergistically enhances the flame retardancy of the multifunctional cotton fabric (total heat release rate, total smoke production and peak heat release rate of the multifunctional cotton fabric are 5.7 MJ/m, 0.09 m2, and 126.8 kW/m2, respectively). Significantly, the multifunctional cotton fabric also demonstrates a fast response time (2 s) and repeatable alarm capability when exposed to flames attack.. Hence, this work provides inspiration for the design and fabrication of multifunctional cotton fabrics with intelligent fire warning and protection.

Bioactive and Multifunctional Wool Textiles Finishing with Diospyros mollis Griff. Extract

Due to the sudden pandemic outbreak, there is a substantial demand for antimicrobial textiles for health and hygiene. Natural dyeing with plant sources has been proven to be an excellent eco-friendly method for producing healthcare textiles. In this study, Diospyros mollis Griff. extract was applied to the simultaneous dyeing and multi-functionalization (antibacterial activity and UV-protection) of wool fabrics. Response surface methodology was applied to optimize the treatment procedure and assess parameter interactions. The optimal result was achieved when dyeing at pH 4, dye concentration 25 g/L, temperature 88°C, and time 95 min. The dyed fabrics had good antibacterial activity against both E.coli and S.aureus (bacterial colony reduction > 90%), with E.coli being more pronounced. The UV protection factor (UPF) also reached the maximum (40+) level, demonstrating their superior UV protection. The finished wools are black, with high color strength (K/S > 9), good light and washing fastness, and fair to good crocking fastness. Thus, Diospyros mollis Griff. fruit extract can be used as a new bioactive agent for multifunctional textiles, as well as simultaneous black coloring.

Photothermoelectric Synergistic Hydrovoltaic Effect: A Flexible Photothermoelectric Yarn Panel for Multiple Renewable-Energy Harvesting.

The human body is in a complex environment affected by body heat, light, and sweat, requiring the development of a wearable multifunctional textile for human utilization. Meanwhile, the traditional thermoelectric yarn is limited by expensive and scarce inorganic thermoelectric materials, which restricts the development of thermoelectric textiles. Therefore, in this paper, photothermoelectric yarns (PPDA-PPy-PEDOT/CuI) using organic poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and inorganic thermoelectric material cuprous iodide (CuI) are used for the thermoelectric layer and poly(pyrrole) (PPy) for the light-absorbing layer. With the introduction of PPy, the temperature difference of the photothermoelectric yarn can be increased for a better voltage output. Subsequently synergizing the photothermoelectric effect with the hydrovoltaic effect to create higher electric potentials, a single wet photothermoelectric yarn obtained by preparation can be irradiated under an infrared lamp at a voltage of up to 0.47 V. Finally, the photothermoelectric yarn PPDA-PPy-PEDOT/CuI was assembled in a series and parallel to obtain a photothermoelectric yarn panel, which was able to output 41.19 mV under an infrared lamp, and the synergistic photothermoelectric and hydrovoltaic effects of the photothermoelectric panel were tested outdoors on human body, and we found that the voltage was able to reach approximately 0.16 V under sunlight. Therefore, the voltage values obtained from the photothermoelectric yarns in this study are competitive and provide a new research idea for the study of photothermoelectric yarns.

Highly Antibacterial and Self-Healing Janus Fabric for Effective Body Moisture/Thermal Management and Durable Waterproof.

Despite the development of many functional fabrics, they are unable to meet practical needs due to their monolithic functions and low durability. Therefore, a multifunctional waterborne polyurethane nanodroplet containing disulfide bonds (WSPU) was synthesized using a simple and environmentally friendly approach. The functional WSPU nanodroplet coating endowed fabrics with a variety of properties, including exceptional hydrophobicity, antibacterial properties, self-healing at room temperature, directional transport, etc. The functionalized fabric demonstrated durable mechanical and chemical stabilities due to the combined effects of disulfide bond reconstruction and hydrophobic chain migration. It exhibited the ability to regain its hydrophobic properties at room temperature after 50 friction cycles were performed without requiring external stimulation. Furthermore, the fabric maintained a water contact angle above 140°, even after being subjected to washing, boiling, and immersion in acid and alkali solutions. In addition, as a result of the fabric's Janus-like wettability, it performed various functions in accordance with varying weather conditions, in terms of wearing comfort and breathability. In hot weather or during exercise, the Janus fabric with the hydrophilic side facing outward enhances the process of sweat-directed perspiration, resulting in a notable cooling effect. On rainy days, the Janus fabric, when positioned with the hydrophobic side facing outward, exhibited excellent waterproof performance. This study presents an opportunity to explore the development of multifunctional fabrics through the combined effects of several functions.

Liquid Metal-Based Stable and Stretchable Zn-Ion Battery for Electronic Textiles.

Electronic textiles harmoniously interact with the human body and the surrounding environment, offering tremendous interest in smart wearable electronics. However, their wide application faces challenges due to the lack of stable and stretchable power electrodes/devices with multifunctional design. Herein, an intrinsically stretchable liquid metal-based fibrous anode for a stable Zn-ion battery (ZIB) is reported. Benefiting from the liquid feature and superior deformability of the liquid metal, optimized Zn ion concentration distribution and Zn (002) deposition behavior are observed, which result in dendrite-free performance even under stretching. With a strain of 50%, the ZIB maintains a high capacity of 139.8 mAh cm-3 (corresponding to 83.0% of the initial value) after 300 cycles, outperforming bare Zn fiber-based ZIB. The fibrous ZIB seamlessly integrates with the sensor, Joule heater, and wirelessly charging device, which provides a stable power supply for human signal monitoring and personal thermal management, holding promise for the application of wearable multifunctional electronic textiles.

Flexible and efficient MXene/PANI/aramid fabrics with high interface durability for wearable electromagnetic wave shielding

The electromagnetic pollution of electronic equipment has a negative impact on the health of aircrews working in special environments. Yet wearable electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials capable of versatility still a challenge. Herein, an effective strategy is developed to construct MXene/PANI/aramid fabric by growing vertically aligned polyaniline (PANI) nanowire arrays on the aramid fabric through impregnating with highly conductive MXene nanosheets to avoid the new accumulation/aggregation of MXene followed by simple polyetherimide (PEI) dipping packaging. In-situ polymerization of PANI solved the problem of weak interaction between inert aramid fiber and MXene to some extent, while PEI packaging solves the existing problem of easy-to-fall MXene nanosheets. The final prepared single-layer composite fabric has suitable highest EMI shielding efficiency value of 31.87 dB, good washing resistance and excellent bending stability (only 4% of the conductivity decreases after 1000 bends). This study provides a simple and easy large-scale method to fabricate multifunctional wearable fabrics to meet the practical application in EMI shielding area.

In situ anchoring iron oxide nanoparticles onto polyester/disperse dye for production of multifunctional fabrics

Medical textiles, including surgical gowns, masks are used as obstacles to prevent the risk of infection for both doctor and patient. The widespread of bacteria and viruses, e.g. chronic hepatitis B, hepatitis C and currently Covid-19 viruses in the patient population is very common. In this work, multifunctional eco-friendly polyester fabrics have been produced by in situ impregnation of 2-((E)-(2-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydrazono)methyl)-4-((E)-phenyldiazenyl)phenol disperse dye onto magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. The technique endowed polyester fabrics with a new color as well as magnetic and antibacterial functionalities. The colored magnetic nanoparticles showed high affinity toward fabrics. Besides, the unbound dye could be easily collected from wastewater by a magnet, significantly facilitate the wastewater treatment. The treated fabrics were analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and vibrating sample magnetometry. Colorimetric values, tensile properties and fastness of the composite fabrics were also measured. The tensile properties of the composite were increased after functionalization. The wettability features of the fabric were investigated and showed a significant improvement. Also, the toxicity of the resulted fabric was exhibited low toxicity against wi-38 cell line. These results indicate the potentiality of the suggested technique in producing multifunctional fabrics with various applications, especially as medical textiles.

Highly Stretchable, Sensitive, and Multifunctional Thermoelectric Fabric for Synergistic-Sensing Systems of Human Signal Monitoring

Highly Stretchable, Sensitive, and Multifunctional Thermoelectric Fabric for Synergistic-Sensing Systems of Human Signal Monitoring

Fabrication of multi-functional and breathable superhydrophobic cotton fabric based on curcumin/ZIF-8 through mild thiol-ene click chemistry reaction

Multifunctional superhydrophobic materials demonstrate remarkable performance and promising application prospects in various fields. However, there is still considerable interest in developing milder superhydrophobic modification techniques for materials. In this study, we aimed to improve the surface roughness of cotton fabric by utilizing an in-situ growth method to incorporate zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8). The fabric underwent a subsequent treatment with curcumin at room temperature, which served as a bridge for connection and provided multifunction to form a core–shell structure (curcumin/ZIF-8). Eventually, by implementing a mild thiol-ene click chemistry reaction, specifically by grafting octadecanethiol onto the C = C bond within the curcumin structure, we successfully prepared superhydrophobic modified cotton fabric known as SHCZC. The contact angle of the SHCZC material reached 168.7°, accompanied by a sliding angle of just 1°. Furthermore, SHCZC exhibited exceptional stability in harsh environments, enduring exposure to strong acids, alkalis, organic solvents, high and low temperatures, repeated washing, and abrasion. The material also demonstrated excellent thermal stability and remarkable breathability. Additionally, SHCZC possessed self-cleaning, UV-blocking, anti-fouling, antibacterial, anti-icing, and oil/water separation characteristics. The presence of these characteristics expands the potential of SHCZC beyond the field of superhydrophobic materials, positioning it as a highly advanced and versatile multifunctional material.

Metal-organic frameworks functionalized cellulosic fabrics as multifunctional smart textiles

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently garnered significant attention in fabricating functional textiles due to their remarkable adsorption capacities and open metal sites. This study presents a rapid and straightforward method for the in-situ surface functionalization of cellulosic textiles with different MOF structures, including MOF-5, MOF-199, ZIF-8, and ZIF-67. The resulting fabrics exhibit substantially increased surface areas compared to the pristine fabric. A comprehensive comparative analysis of these multifunctional fabrics has been conducted, considering factors such as ease of growth, surface area, wash durability, malodor adsorption capacity, UV-blocking attributes, antimicrobial efficacy, and commercial viability. Our results demonstrate that all MOF-treated textiles effectively capture a variety of malodors, including isovaleric acid, nonenal, and indole, at concentrations up to 1000 ppm. Further, these textiles also show the high adsorption capacity of aniline, a model air pollutant, with levels ranging from 15.5 to 22.87 mg/g. Notably, all MOF-treated samples exhibit impressive antimicrobial performance, with nearly 99.9 % effectiveness against both E. coli and S. aureus. MOF-199@CMC and ZIF-67@CMC fabrics also display exceptional UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) values, reaching 238 and 149, respectively. Considering variables such as solvents employed during synthesis, the visual aesthetics imparted by the finish, and the wash durability of the different MOF-functionalized fabrics, ZIF-8@CMC stands out as the superior choice, surpassing MOF-5@CMC, MOF-199@CMC, and ZIF-67@CMC fabrics. These MOF functionalized textiles can potentially be used as highly effective protective textiles.

Highly integrated smart mountaineering clothing with dual-mode synergistic heating and sensitive sensing for personal thermal management and human health monitoring

The development of multifunctional textiles is an effective strategy to improve the quality of human life. Normal single-mode heaters and strain sensors have been developed, but their low integration leads to multiple devices being installed on the garment, which greatly increases the weight of the garment and thus reduces its wearability. Here, bio-enzymatic polymerization and a simple shaking deposition method were used to prepare poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and copper(II) sulfide (CuS) onto the surface of the elastic nylon fabrics, which endowed the fabrics with excellent dual-mode heating properties and sensitive sensing properties, and used to develop highly integrated multifunctional and smart mountaineering clothing. In electro-driven heating mode, low-voltage (6 V) and high-voltage (12 V) heating can be used for joint heat therapy and active rapid deicing, respectively. In photo-driven heating mode, low intensity (0.3 sun) and high intensity (1.5 sun) heating can be used for joint heat therapy and rapid antibacterial, respectively. In addition, the fabric has the ability of dual-mode synergistic heating, and the surface temperature of the fabric can exhibit an ultra-high temperature of 137.9 °C under the external stimulation of 0.3 sun and 12 V. The fabric will greatly enhance the deicing and antibacterial efficiencies under the synergistic effect. This work provides a facile strategy for the fabrication of flexible and highly integrated multifunctional electronic devices, and therefore has great potential for the design and development of all-in-one multifunctional electronic devices such as personal thermal management, soft robotics, and human-computer interaction.

Inherent mosquito repellent-cum-multifunctional polyurethane for multifunctional coating of cotton fabric

Textile had evolved from simple apparel to multifunctional textiles due to increasing awareness and upgrading technology. For fulfilling modern demands, multifunctional textile became a vital area of exploration for textile research community, and polyurethane coated textile is a significant contributor to attain this position. The current work reports ethyl anthranilate-based durable inherent mosquito repellent polyurethane (Mos PU) with ultraviolet (UV) protective, antibacterial and waterproof-breathable properties for coating of textiles. The Mos PU was characterised using Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) techniques. The changes in the properties of cotton fabric with the varying add-on were also studied. Thermal properties of Mos PU and coated samples were studied using thermogravimetric analysis. The functional properties of the coated cotton fabrics were also assessed against repeated laundering. The bacteria adherence and quantitative antibacterial activity tests confirmed the antibacterial effect of coated surface on different bacterial strains, gram positive S. aureus and gram negative E. coli. Moreover, the prepared coated cotton fabric showed excellent mosquito repellency (100 %), appreciable water vapour transmission rate and excellent UV protection factor (UPF rating of 50+). The functional properties of the prepared coated samples were significant even after ten launderings.

Bio-inspired flexible versatile textiles for excellent absorption-dominated electromagnetic interference shielding, thermal management, and strain sensing

Multifunctional flexible textiles are urgently required for wearable electronics and military equipment. However, it remains a big challenge for them to achieve absorption-dominated electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and maintain excellent multifunctionalities. Herein, inspired by hierarchical structure of muscle, a novel multilayer self-assembly strategy was proposed to conformally deposit conductive substances and absorption fillers on flexible textiles to realize superior versatility in EMI shielding, thermal management, and strain sensing. The formed muscle-like nanostructure was composed of Ag nanoparticles, Ag nanowires, MXene, and FeCo-C. Benefiting from the 3D cross-linked stable networks with high conductivity (14075.3 S·m−1), durable EMI shielding (85 dB after stretching and bending), and excellent electrical heating (116.3 °C under 1.8 V) were achieved. Based on robust electrostatic interaction between FeCo-C and MXene, strong EMW absorption was realized with a low reflection coefficient (0.168). The textile also demonstrated excellent strain sensing performance in a linear range of 5–60 % with a fast response time (121 ms) for complex motion detection. Besides, the textiles had good gas permeability, ensuring long-term wearable comfortability. This work offers a significant paradigm to construct multifunctional flexible textiles for next-generation integrated flexible electronic devices and military equipment with practical applications.

Fabrication of multifunctional cotton fabric with “pompon mum” shaped surface by ZIF-8 for applications in oil-water separation and anti-icing

The application of metal organic framework materials (MOFs) in superhydrophobic modification has a broad prospect. In this work, a multifunctional flexible superhydrophobic cotton fabric (PSZDC) with no fluorine, high oil-water separation efficiency, and excellent anti-icing performance was prepared through the modification of cotton fabric by dopamine (DA), ZIF-8, stearic acid (SA) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). SEM and 3D ultra-depth of field stereo microscope results revealed the unique “pompon mum” shaped surface of PSZDC. ATR-FTIR, XRD, and XPS analyses confirmed the composition of the hydrophobic layer. PSZDC had a water contact angle of 165.4° and showed stability in mechanical robustness and chemical resistance tests. The oil-water separation efficiency of PSZDC was close to 100 %, and the permeation flux was as high as 36,000 (L·m−2h−1). PSZDC also exhibited excellent effect in anti-icing test, which was expected to be used as ice rescue suits and oil-water separation materials. In addition, this method was universal and repeatable, as evidenced by its application to four common fabrics: nylon-6, polyester, wool, and silk.

Step-by-step assembly of antimony tin oxide/polymer coatings on cotton fabrics for enhanced electrical conductivity and fire resistance properties

To prepare functional cotton fabric with good electrical conductive property, tin oxide antimony (ATO) and polymer was alternately assembled on the cotton fabric for fabricating functional coating by dipping-assisted layer-by-layer assembly technique. The microstructure of ATO/polymer coated fabric was characterized by scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, the electrical conductivity and air permeability were measured by multimeter, four-point resistance tester and air permeability tester. The results showed that the addition of ATO imparted electrical conductive property to the ordinary cotton fabric, and the polyanionic waterborne polyurethane (WPU) was beneficial to the deposition of ATO and polycationic polyethyleneimine (PEI) and thus improving the conductive property of the fabric. With the increase of the number of assembly layers, the quality, thickness and electrical conductive property increased, but the air permeability decreased. When the number of assembly layers increased from 3 to 6 and 9, the resistivity of the fabric decreased from 41.8 Ω·m to 6.1 and 4.7 Ω·m. Meanwhile, the addition of ATO and PEI improved the fire resistance property of cotton fabric. The exploration of the conductive fabric provides a feasible strategy for multi-functional wearable textiles.

Multifunctional Silver Nanowire Fabric Reinforced by Hot Pressing for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding, Electric Heating, and Sensing.

Durability and multifunctionality are crucial considerations in the realm of electronic textiles. Herein, a hot-pressing process has been developed to enhance the fixation of silver nanowires (AgNWs) on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric. The conductivity, electromagnetic shielding, and electric heating properties of the hot-pressed fabric were measured to demonstrate the effectiveness of the hot-pressing process. The conductivity of the hot-pressed fabric (180 °C for 90 s) was found to be 464.2 S/m, while that of the fabric without hot pressing was 94.9 S/m. The washed hot-pressed fabric was able to provide a maximum electromagnetic shielding of 17 dB, a negative strain sensing performance (the ΔR/R0 of the hot-pressed fabric was maintained at -15%), and an outstanding electric heating property (the temperature reached 110 °C at a current of 0.08 A). This AgNW fabric holds great potential for use in multi-functional wearable devices, and the hot-pressing process improved its stability and durability, making it suitable for industrial production.