Electronic textiles: New age of wearable technology for healthcare and fitness solutions

Advancing frontiers in skin offensive odor management: from innovative diagnostics to cutting-edge treatments and emerging technologies

Skin bromhidrosis, commonly referred to as body odor, is caused by the microbial breakdown of sweat, leading to the formation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that result in unpleasant odors. While body odor is a natural consequence of sweat production, excessive or persistent odor can significantly affect quality of life, causing social stigma and psychological distress. Traditional approaches to managing body odor, such as antiperspirants and deodorants, have limitations, necessitating the development of more advanced diagnostic tools and treatments. This review aims to explore recent advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of skin offensive odor, focusing on cutting-edge technologies and novel approaches. It highlights the interplay of the skin microbiome, sweat gland activity, and external factors in odor formation and investigates innovative solutions for long-term odor management. Emerging diagnostic techniques, such as electronic nose (E-nose) technology, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and next-generation sequencing (NGS), enable precise detection and analysis of odor-causing VOCs and microbial profiles. These tools facilitate a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of odor production. Treatment innovations include nanotechnology-based antimicrobials (e.g., silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles), probiotic formulations for microbiome modulation, and odor-neutralizing compounds such as cyclodextrins and enzymatic neutralizers. Advanced delivery systems, including microneedle patches and nanoencapsulation, enable targeted, sustained release of active ingredients. Additionally, systemic approaches like oral probiotics and dietary interventions offer complementary strategies for managing body odor. The integration of novel diagnostics with innovative topical and systemic treatments offers promising avenues for more effective and personalized management of skin offensive odor. These advancements pave the way for improved quality of life for individuals affected by bromhidrosis, with potential for widespread application in personal care and medical contexts. Clinical trial number: Not applicable.

Effect of Embroidery Style on the Bandwidth of Textronic RFID UHF Transponder Antenna

The production of consumer electronics using electrically conductive materials is a dynamically developing sector of the economy. E-textiles (electronic textiles) are also used in radio frequency identification technology, mainly in the production of tag antennas. For economic reasons, it is important that the finished product is universal, although frequencies in radio systems have different values in different regions of the world. Therefore, the antenna bandwidth must be sufficiently wide so that the read range of the tag is maximally large for all frequencies of the specified band. The bandwidth of an antenna depends on its type and geometric dimensions, but this parameter can also be influenced by the way a given type of antenna is made. The authors prepared samples of embroidered RFID tag antennas for the UHF band using various types of embroidery. Then, its impedance and the read range of the tag were examined in order to determine the exact influence of the type of embroidery on the parameter of interest (antenna bandwidth). The results obtained during the research indicate the influence of different embroidery styles is present; however, that influence is not significant.

Movement Disorders and Smart Wrist Devices: A Comprehensive Study

In the medical field, there are several very different movement disorders, such as tremors, Parkinson's disease, or Huntington's disease. A wide range of motor and non-motor symptoms characterizes them. It is evident that in the modern era, the use of smart wrist devices, such as smartwatches, wristbands, and smart bracelets is spreading among all categories of people. This diffusion is justified by the limited costs, ease of use, and less invasiveness (and consequently greater acceptability) than other types of sensors used for health status monitoring. This systematic review aims to synthesize research studies using smart wrist devices for a specific class of movement disorders. Following PRISMA-S guidelines, 130 studies were selected and analyzed. For each selected study, information is provided relating to the smartwatch/wristband/bracelet model used (whether it is commercial or not), the number of end-users involved in the experimentation stage, and finally the characteristics of the benchmark dataset possibly used for testing. Moreover, some articles also reported the type of raw data extracted from the smart wrist device, the implemented designed algorithmic pipeline, and the data classification methodology. It turned out that most of the studies have been published in the last ten years, showing a growing interest in the scientific community. The selected articles mainly investigate the relationship between smart wrist devices and Parkinson's disease. Epilepsy and seizure detection are also research topics of interest, while there are few papers analyzing gait disorders, Huntington's Disease, ataxia, or Tourette Syndrome. However, the results of this review highlight the difficulties still present in the use of the smartwatch/wristband/bracelet for the identified categories of movement disorders, despite the advantages these technologies could bring in the dissemination of low-cost solutions usable directly within living environments and without the need for caregivers or medical personnel.

Tracking Upper Limb Motion via Wearable Solutions: Systematic Review of Research From 2011 to 2023

BACKGROUND

The development of wearable solutions for tracking upper limb motion has gained research interest over the past decade. This paper provides a systematic review of related research on the type, feasibility, signal processing techniques, and feedback of wearable systems for tracking upper limb motion, mostly in rehabilitation applications, to understand and monitor human movement.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this article is to investigate how wearables are used to capture upper limb functions, especially related to clinical and rehabilitation applications.

METHODS

A systematic literature search identified 27 relevant studies published in English from 2011 to 2023, across 4 databases: ACM Digital Library, IEEE Xplore, PubMed, and ScienceDirect. We included papers focusing on motion or posture tracking for the upper limbs, wearable devices, feedback given to end users, and systems having clinical or rehabilitation purposes. We excluded papers focusing on exoskeletons, robotics, prosthetics, orthoses, or activity recognition systems; reviews; and books.

RESULTS

The results from this research focus on wearable devices that are designed to monitor upper limb movement. More specifically, studies were divided into 2 distinct categories: clinical motion tracking (15/27, 56%) and rehabilitation (12/27, 44%), involving healthy individuals and patients, with a total of 439 participants. Among the 27 studies, the majority (19/27) used inertial measurement units to track upper limb movement or smart textiles embedded with sensors. These devices were attached to the body with straps (mostly Velcro), providing flexibility and stability. The developed wearable devices positively influenced user motivation through the provided feedback, with visual feedback being the most common owing to the high level of independence provided. Moreover, a variety of signal processing techniques, such as Kalman and Butterworth filters, were applied to ensure data accuracy. However, limitations persist and include sensor positioning, calibration, and battery life, as well as a lack of clinical data on the effectiveness of these systems. The sampling rate of the data collection ranged from 50 Hz to 2000 Hz, which notably affected data quality and battery life. In addition, several findings were inconclusive, and thus, further future research is needed to understand and improve upper limb posture to develop progressive wearable systems.

CONCLUSIONS

This paper offers a comprehensive overview of wearable monitoring systems, with a focus on upper limb motion tracking and rehabilitation. It emphasizes the various types of available solutions; their efficacy, wearability, and feasibility; and proposed processing techniques. Finally, it presents robust findings regarding feedback accuracy derived from experiments and outlines potential future research directions.

Evaluating a Smart Textile Loneliness Monitoring System for Older People: Co-Design and Qualitative Focus Group Study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have explored how sensor technologies can assist in in the detection, recognition, and prevention of subjective loneliness. These studies have shown a correlation between physiological and behavioral sensor data and the experience of loneliness. However, little research has been conducted on the design requirements from the perspective of older people and stakeholders in technology development. The use of these technologies and infrastructural questions have been insufficiently addressed. Systems generally consist of sensors or software installed in smartphones or homes. However, no studies have attempted to use smart textiles, which are fabrics with integrated electronics.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to understand the design requirements for a smart textile loneliness monitoring system from the perspectives of older people and stakeholders.

METHODS

We conducted co-design workshops with 5 users and 6 stakeholders to determine the design requirements for smart textile loneliness monitoring systems. We derived a preliminary product concept of the smart wearable and furniture system. Digital and physical models and a use case were evaluated in a focus group study with older people and stakeholders (n=7).

RESULTS

The results provided insights for designing systems that use smart textiles to monitor loneliness in older people and widen their use. The findings informed the general system, wearables and furniture, materials, sensor positioning, washing, sensor synchronization devices, charging, intervention, and installation and maintenance requirements. This study provided the first insight from a human-centered perspective into smart textile loneliness monitoring systems for older people.

CONCLUSIONS

We recommend more research on the intervention that links to the monitored loneliness in a way that addresses different needs to ensure its usefulness and value to people. Future systems must also reflect on questions of identification of system users and the available infrastructure and life circumstances of people. We further found requirements that included user cooperation, compatibility with other worn medical devices, and long-term durability.

Advancements in textile techniques for cardiovascular tissue replacement and repair

In cardiovascular therapeutics, procedures such as heart transplants and coronary artery bypass graft are pivotal. However, an acute shortage of organ donors increases waiting times of patients, which is reflected in negative effects on the outcome for the patient. Post-procedural complications such as thrombotic events and atherosclerotic developments may also have grave clinical implications. To address these challenges, tissue engineering is emerging as a solution, using textile technologies to synthesize biomimetic scaffolds resembling natural tissues. This comprehensive analysis explains methodologies including electrospinning, electrostatic flocking, and advanced textile techniques developed from weaving, knitting, and braiding. These techniques are evaluated in the context of fabricating cardiac patches, vascular graft constructs, stent designs, and state-of-the-art wearable sensors. We also closely examine the interaction of distinct process parameters with the biomechanical and morphological attributes of the resultant scaffolds. The research concludes by combining current findings and recommendations for subsequent investigation.

Engineering with Biomedical Sciences Changing the Horizon of Healthcare-A Review

In the dynamic realm of healthcare, the convergence of engineering and biomedical sciences has emerged as a pivotal frontier. In this review we go into specific areas of innovation, including medical imaging and diagnosis, developments in biomedical sensors, and drug delivery systems. Wearable biosensors, non-wearable biosensors, and biochips, which include gene chips, protein chips, and cell chips, are all included in the scope of the topic that pertains to biomedical sensors. Extensive research is conducted on drug delivery systems, spanning topics such as the integration of computer modeling, the optimization of drug formulations, and the design of delivery devices. Furthermore, the paper investigates intelligent drug delivery methods, which encompass stimuli-responsive systems such as temperature, redox, pH, light, enzyme, and magnetic responsive systems. In addition to that, the review goes into topics such as tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, biomedical robotics, automation, biomechanics, and the utilization of green biomaterials. The purpose of this analysis is to provide insights that will enhance continuing research and development efforts in engineering-driven biomedical breakthroughs, ultimately contributing to the improvement of healthcare. These insights will be provided by addressing difficulties and highlighting future prospects.

Realizing the Potential of Commercial E-Textiles for Wearable Glucose Biosensing Application

Advancements in wearable technology have enabled noninvasive health monitoring using biosensors. This research focuses on developing a textile-based sweat glucose sensor using commercially available conductive textiles, evading the complexity of traditional fabrication methods. A comparative analysis of three low-cost conductive textiles, Adafruit 1364, 1167, and 4762, has been conducted for electrochemical glucose detection with glucose-specific enzymes such as glucose oxidase (GOx) and glucose dehydrogenase (GDH). Adafruit 1364 outperformed others in morphological, electrochemical, and wearable properties. Cyclic voltammetry shows that Adafruit 1364 and 4762 effectively detect glucose at the potential of 0.23 and 0.08 V using glucose oxidase and 0.1 and 0.08 V using glucose dehydrogenase enzymes, respectively. Furthermore, chronoamperometry has been conducted to confirm the presence of glucose at 1 μM concentration. Differential pulse voltammetry was conducted to assess the sensitivity of the Adafruit 1364 fabric electrode using glucose solutions with concentrations of 0.05, 0.15, 0.25, and 0.5 mM. The electrode immobilized with GOx showed a sensitivity of 0.005 μA μM-1 and a limit of detection (LOD) of 41.3 μM, while the electrode immobilized with GDH exhibited a sensitivity of 0.0019 μA μM-1 and an LOD of 63.1 μM. The study also highlighted the reproducibility, effect of interferents, and advantageous wearable properties of these sensors.

Advancements in Textile-Based sEMG Sensors for Muscle Fatigue Detection: A Journey from Material Evolution to Technological Integration

Textile-based surface electromyography (sEMG) electrodes have emerged as a prominent tool in muscle fatigue assessment, marking a significant shift toward innovative, noninvasive methods. This review examines the transition from metallic fibers to novel conductive polymers, elastomers, and advanced material-based electrodes, reflecting on the rapid evolution of materials in sEMG sensor technology. It highlights the pivotal role of materials science in enhancing sensor adaptability, signal accuracy, and longevity, crucial for practical applications in health monitoring, while examining the balance of clinical precision with user comfort. Additionally, it maps the global sEMG research landscape of diverse regional contributors and their impact on technological progress, focusing on the integration of Eastern manufacturing prowess with Western technological innovations and exploring both the opportunities and challenges in this global synergy. The integration of such textile-based sEMG innovations with artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, energy harvesting, and IoT connectivity is also anticipated as future prospects. Such advancements are poised to revolutionize personalized preventive healthcare. As the exploration of textile-based sEMG electrodes continues, the transformative potential not only promises to revolutionize integrated wellness and preventive healthcare but also signifies a seamless transition from laboratory innovations to real-world applications in sports medicine, envisioning the future of truly wearable material technologies.

All-Textile Piezoelectric Nanogenerator Based on 3D Knitted Fabric Electrode for Wearable Applications

Flexible, air permeable and elastic self-powered sensors for human motion monitoring and assisted medical rehabilitation have recently become a hot research topic. However, most current piezoelectric sensors can not account for many characteristics. Addressing this challenge, an all-textile piezoelectric sensor (ATPS) based on 3D structured knitted fabric electrodes is reported. The ATPS consists of a piezoelectric element polyvinylidene fluoride nanofiber membrane, flexible knitted fabric electrodes, and an elastic self-adhesive bandage. Based on the flexible and efficient knitting technology, the sensor has the advantages of low cost, flexibility, simple structure, and convenient large-area manufacturing. Experimental and finite element simulation results show that the knitting pattern of fabric electrodes can enhance the piezoelectric output of ATPS. The optimal ATPS has a high voltage response sensitivity of up to 0.68 V/kPa. The proposed ATPS responds to a wide range of input forces from 0.098 to 724 N in self-powered mode, verifying its feasibility as a tactile sensor for human motion detection and recognition (throat swallowing, wrist bending, elbow bending, knee bending, walking slowly, running fast) and as a pressure sensor (Morse code, digit recognition) and demonstrating its potential for motion tracking, medical rehabilitation, and human-computer interaction.

Review of Recent Progress on Silicone Rubber Composites for Multifunctional Sensor Systems

The latest progress (the year 2021-2024) on multifunctional sensors based on silicone rubber is reported. These multifunctional sensors are useful for real-time monitoring through relative resistance, relative current change, and relative capacitance types. The present review contains a brief overview and literature survey on the sensors and their multifunctionalities. This contains an introduction to the different functionalities of these sensors. Following the introduction, the survey on the types of filler or rubber and their fabrication are briefly described. The coming section deals with the fabrication methodology of these composites where the sensors are integrated. The special focus on mechanical and electro-mechanical properties is discussed. Electro-mechanical properties with a special focus on response time, linearity, and gauge factor are reported. The next section of this review reports the filler dispersion and its role in influencing the properties and applications of these sensors. Finally, various types of sensors are briefly reported. These sensors are useful for monitoring human body motions, breathing activity, environment or breathing humidity, organic gas sensing, and, finally, smart textiles. Ultimately, the study summarizes the key takeaway from this review article. These conclusions are focused on the merits and demerits of the sensors and are followed by their future prospects.

Design, Fabrication, and Evaluation of 3D Biopotential Electrodes and Intelligent Garment System for Sports Monitoring

This study presents the development and evaluation of an innovative intelligent garment system, incorporating 3D knitted silver biopotential electrodes, designed for long-term sports monitoring. By integrating advanced textile engineering with wearable monitoring technologies, we introduce a novel approach to real-time physiological signal acquisition, focusing on enhancing athletic performance analysis and fatigue detection. Utilizing low-resistance silver fibers, our electrodes demonstrate significantly reduced skin-to-electrode impedance, facilitating improved signal quality and reliability, especially during physical activities. The garment system, embedded with these electrodes, offers a non-invasive, comfortable solution for continuous ECG and EMG monitoring, addressing the limitations of traditional Ag/AgCl electrodes, such as skin irritation and signal degradation over time. Through various experimentation, including impedance measurements and biosignal acquisition during cycling activities, we validate the system's effectiveness in capturing high-quality physiological data. Our findings illustrate the electrodes' superior performance in both dry and wet conditions. This study not only advances the field of intelligent garments and biopotential monitoring, but also provides valuable insights for the application of intelligent sports wearables in the future.

Putting Hybrid Nanomaterials to Work for Biomedical Applications

Hybrid nanomaterials have found use in many biomedical applications. This article provides a comprehensive review of the principles, techniques, and recent advancements in the design and fabrication of hybrid nanomaterials for biomedicine. We begin with an introduction to the general concept of material hybridization, followed by a discussion of how this approach leads to materials with additional functionality and enhanced performance. We then highlight hybrid nanomaterials in the forms of nanostructures, nanocomposites, metal-organic frameworks, and biohybrids, including their fabrication methods. We also showcase the use of hybrid nanomaterials to advance biomedical engineering in the context of nanomedicine, regenerative medicine, diagnostics, theranostics, and biomanufacturing. Finally, we offer perspectives on challenges and opportunities.

Exploring the electrical robustness of conductive textile fasteners for wearable devices in different human motion conditions

Conventional snap fasteners used in clothing are often used as electrical connectors in e-textile and wearable applications for signal transmission due to their wide availability and ease of use. Nonetheless, limited research exists on the validation of these fasteners, regarding the impact of contact-induced high-amplitude artefacts, especially under motion conditions. In this work, three types of fasteners were used as electromechanical connectors, establishing the interface between a regular sock and an acquisition device. The tested fasteners have different shapes and sizes, as well as have different mechanisms of attachment between the plug and receptacle counterparts. Experimental evaluation was performed under static conditions, slow walking, and rope jumping at a high cadence. The tests were also performed with a test mass of 140 g. Magnetic fasteners presented excellent electromechanical robustness under highly dynamic human movement with and without the additional mass. On the other hand, it was demonstrated that the Spring snap buttons (with a spring-based engaging mechanism) presented a sub-optimal performance under high motion and load conditions, followed by the Prong snap fasteners (without spring), which revealed a high susceptibility to artefacts. Overall, this work provides further evidence on the importance and reliability of clothing fasteners as electrical connectors in wearable systems.

Porous Conductive Textiles for Wearable Electronics

Over the years, researchers have made significant strides in the development of novel flexible/stretchable and conductive materials, enabling the creation of cutting-edge electronic devices for wearable applications. Among these, porous conductive textiles (PCTs) have emerged as an ideal material platform for wearable electronics, owing to their light weight, flexibility, permeability, and wearing comfort. This Review aims to present a comprehensive overview of the progress and state of the art of utilizing PCTs for the design and fabrication of a wide variety of wearable electronic devices and their integrated wearable systems. To begin with, we elucidate how PCTs revolutionize the form factors of wearable electronics. We then discuss the preparation strategies of PCTs, in terms of the raw materials, fabrication processes, and key properties. Afterward, we provide detailed illustrations of how PCTs are used as basic building blocks to design and fabricate a wide variety of intrinsically flexible or stretchable devices, including sensors, actuators, therapeutic devices, energy-harvesting and storage devices, and displays. We further describe the techniques and strategies for wearable electronic systems either by hybridizing conventional off-the-shelf rigid electronic components with PCTs or by integrating multiple fibrous devices made of PCTs. Subsequently, we highlight some important wearable application scenarios in healthcare, sports and training, converging technologies, and professional specialists. At the end of the Review, we discuss the challenges and perspectives on future research directions and give overall conclusions. As the demand for more personalized and interconnected devices continues to grow, PCT-based wearables hold immense potential to redefine the landscape of wearable technology and reshape the way we live, work, and play.

Heterogeneous fusion of biometric and deep physiological features for accurate porcine cough recognition

Accurate identification of porcine cough plays a vital role in comprehensive respiratory health monitoring and diagnosis of pigs. It serves as a fundamental prerequisite for stress-free animal health management, reducing pig mortality rates, and improving the economic efficiency of the farming industry. Creating a representative multi-source signal signature for porcine cough is a crucial step toward automating its identification. To this end, a feature fusion method that combines the biological features extracted from the acoustic source segment with the deep physiological features derived from thermal source images is proposed in the paper. First, acoustic features from various domains are extracted from the sound source signals. To determine the most effective combination of sound source features, an SVM-based recursive feature elimination cross-validation algorithm (SVM-RFECV) is employed. Second, a shallow convolutional neural network (named ThermographicNet) is constructed to extract deep physiological features from the thermal source images. Finally, the two heterogeneous features are integrated at an early stage and input into a support vector machine (SVM) for porcine cough recognition. Through rigorous experimentation, the performance of the proposed fusion approach is evaluated, achieving an impressive accuracy of 98.79% in recognizing porcine cough. These results further underscore the effectiveness of combining acoustic source features with heterogeneous deep thermal source features, thereby establishing a robust feature representation for porcine cough recognition.

Advancement in Biosensor Technologies of 2D MaterialIntegrated with Cellulose-Physical Properties

This review paper provides an in-depth analysis of recent advancements in integrating two-dimensional (2D) materials with cellulose to enhance biosensing technology. The incorporation of 2D materials such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides, along with nanocellulose, improves the sensitivity, stability, and flexibility of biosensors. Practical applications of these advanced biosensors are explored in fields like medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring. This innovative approach is driving research opportunities and expanding the possibilities for diverse applications in this rapidly evolving field.

Microwave Resonators for Wearable Sensors Design: A Systematic Review

The field of flexible electronics is undergoing an exponential evolution due to the demand of the industry for wearable devices, wireless communication devices and networks, healthcare sensing devices and the technology around the Internet of Things (IoT) framework. E-tex tiles are attracting attention from within the healthcare areas, amongst others, for providing the possibility of developing continuous patient monitoring solutions and customized devices to accommodate each patient's specific needs. This review paper summarizes multiple approaches investigated in the literature for wearable/flexible resonators working as antenna-based systems, sensors and filters with special attention paid to the integration to flexible materials, especially textiles. This review manuscript provides a general overview of the flexible resonators' advantages and drawbacks, materials, fabrication techniques and processes and applications. Finally, the main challenges and future prospects of wearable resonators are discussed.

Amorphous Silicon Thin-Film Solar Cells on Fabrics as Large-Scale Detectors for Textile Personal Protective Equipment in Active Laser Safety

Laser safety is starting to play an increasingly important role, especially when the laser is used as a tool. Passive laser safety systems quickly reach their limits and, in some cases, provide inadequate protection. To counteract this, various active systems have been developed. Flexible and especially textile-protective materials pose a special challenge. The market still lacks personal protective equipment (PPE) for active laser safety. Covering these materials with solar cells as large-area optical detectors offers a promising possibility. In this work, an active laser protection fabric with amorphous silicon solar cells is presented as a large-scale sensor for continuous wave and pulsed lasers (down to ns). First, the fabric and the solar cells were examined separately for irradiation behavior and damage. Laser irradiation was performed at wavelengths of 245, 355, 532, and 808 nm. The solar cell sensors were then applied directly to the laser protection fabric. The damage and destruction behavior of the active laser protection system was investigated. The results show that the basic safety function of the solar cell is still preserved when the locally damaged or destroyed area is irradiated again. A simple automatic shutdown system was used to demonstrate active laser protection within 50 ms.

The Influence of the Washing Process on the Impedance of Textronic Radio Frequency Identification Transponder Antennas

Antennas dedicated to RFID systems created on textile substrates should maintain strictly defined parameters. During washing, the materials from which such antennas are made are exposed to mechanical and chemical exposure-degradation of the parameters characterizing those materials may occur, which in turn may lead to a change in the parameters of the antenna. For research purposes, four groups of model dipole antennas (sewn with two types of conductive threads on two fabrics) were created and then they were subjected to several washing processes. After each stage of the experiment, the impedance parameters of the demonstration antennas were measured using indirect measurements. Based on the obtained results, it was found that these parameters change their values during washing, and that this is influenced by a number of factors, e.g., shrinkage of the substrate fabric.

Preparation and Characterization of Non-Crimping Laminated Textile Composites Reinforced with Electrospun Nanofibers

This research investigated the use of electrospun nanofibers as reinforcing laminates in textiles to enhance their mechanical properties for use as smart and technical textile applications. Crimping plays a crucial role in textiles. Because of crimp, fabrics have extensibility, compressibility, and improved quality. Although crimping is inevitable for fabrics used in smart textiles, it is also a disadvantage as it could weaken the fibers and reduce their strength and efficiency. The study focused on preparing laminated textile composites by electrospinning a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polymer onto textile fabric. The research examined the effect of electrospun nanofibers on the fabric by using a tensile testing machine and scanning electron microscopy. The results revealed that the prepared laminated textile was crimp-free because of the orientation of the nanofibers directly electrospun on the fabric, which exhibited perfect bonding between the laminates. Additionally, the nanofiber-reinforced composite fabrics demonstrated a 75.5% increase in the elastic moduli and a 20% increase in elongation at breaking. The study concluded that the use of electrospun nanofibers as laminates in textile composites could enhance the elastic properties, and prepared laminated composites will have the advantages of nanofibers, such as crimp-free elastic regions. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the laminated textile composite were compared with those of the micromechanical models, providing a deeper understanding of the behavior of these laminated composites.

Self-Repairing and Energy-Harvesting Triboelectric Sensor for Tracking Limb Motion and Identifying Breathing Patterns

The increasing prevalence of health problems stemming from sedentary lifestyles and evolving workplace cultures has placed a substantial burden on healthcare systems. Consequently, remote health wearable monitoring systems have emerged as essential tools to track individuals' health and well-being. Self-powered triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have exhibited significant potential for use as emerging detection devices capable of recognizing body movements and monitoring breathing patterns. However, several challenges remain to be addressed in order to fulfill the requirements for self-healing ability, air permeability, energy harvesting, and suitable sensing materials. These materials must possess high flexibility, be lightweight, and have excellent triboelectric charging effects in both electropositive and electronegative layers. In this work, we investigated self-healable electrospun polybutadiene-based urethane (PBU) as a positive triboelectric layer and titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) MXene as a negative triboelectric layer for the fabrication of an energy-harvesting TENG device. PBU consists of maleimide and furfuryl components as well as hydrogen bonds that trigger the Diels-Alder reaction, contributing to its self-healing properties. Moreover, this urethane incorporates a multitude of carbonyl and amine groups, which create dipole moments in both the stiff and the flexible segments of the polymer. This characteristic positively influences the triboelectric qualities of PBU by facilitating electron transfer between contacting materials, ultimately resulting in high output performance. We employed this device for sensing applications to monitor human motion and breathing pattern recognition. The soft and fibrous-structured TENG generates a high and stable open-circuit voltage of up to 30 V and a short-circuit current of 4 μA at an operation frequency of 4.0 Hz, demonstrating remarkable cyclic stability. A significant feature of our TENG is its self-healing ability, which allows for the restoration of its functionality and performance after sustaining damage. This characteristic has been achieved through the utilization of the self-healable PBU fibers, which can be repaired via a simple vapor solvent method. This innovative approach enables the TENG device to maintain optimal performance and continue functioning effectively even after multiple uses. After integration with a rectifier, the TENG can charge various capacitors and power 120 LEDs. Moreover, we employed the TENG as a self-powered active motion sensor, attaching it to the human body to monitor various body movements for energy-harvesting and sensing purposes. Additionally, the device demonstrates the capability to recognize breathing patterns in real time, offering valuable insights into an individual's respiratory health.