Metal nanowires grown in situ on polymeric fibres for electronic textiles

Stretchable, Washable, and Anti-Ultraviolet i-Textile-Based Wearable Device for Motion Monitoring

Smart textiles with multifunction and highly stable performance are essential for their application in wearable electronics. Despite the advancement of various smart textiles through the decoration of conductive materials on textile surfaces, improving their stability and functionality remains a challenging topic. In this study, we developed an ionic textile (i-textile) with air permeability, water resistance, UV resistance, and sensing capabilities through in situ photopolymerization of ionogel onto the textile surface. The i-textile presents air permeability comparable to that of bare textile while possessing enhanced UV resistance. Remarkably, the i-textile maintains excellent electrical properties after washing 20 times or being subjected to 300 stretching cycles at 30% tension. When applied to human joint motion detection, the i-textile-based sensors can effectively distinguish joint motion based on their sensitivity and response speed. This research presents a novel method for developing smart textiles that further advances wearable electronics.

Controlling Nano-to-Microscale Multilevel Architecture in Polymeric Microfibers through Polymerization-Induced Spontaneous Phase Separation

Hierarchically structured polymeric fibers, composed of structural nanoscale motifs that assemble into a microscale fiber are frequently found in natural fibers including cellulose and silk. The creation of synthetic fibers with nano-to-microscale hierarchical structures represents a promising avenue for the development of novel fabrics with distinctive physical, chemical, and mechanical characteristics. In this work, we introduce a novel approach for creating polyamine-based core-sheath microfibers with controlled hierarchical architectures. This approach involves a polymerization-induced spontaneous phase separation and subsequent chemical fixation. Through the use of various polyamines, the phase separation process can be manipulated to produce fibers with diverse porous core architectures, ranging from densely packed nanospheres to segmented "bamboo-stem" morphology. Moreover, the nitrogen-rich surface of the core enables both the chemisorption of heavy metals and the physisorption of proteins and enzymes. Our method offers a new set of tools for the production of polymeric fibers with novel hierarchical morphologies, which has a high potential for a wide range of applications such as filtering, separation, and catalysis.

Hybrid Fiber Materials according to the Manufacturing Technology Methods and IOT Materials: A Systematic Review

With the development of convergence technology, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI), there has been increasing interest in the materials industry. In recent years, numerous studies have attempted to identify and explore multi-functional cutting-edge hybrid materials. In this paper, the international literature on the materials used in hybrid fibers and manufacturing technologies were investigated and their future utilization in the industry is predicted. Furthermore, a systematic review is also conducted. This includes sputtering, electrospun nanofibers, 3D (three-dimensional) printing, shape memory, and conductive materials. Sputtering technology is an eco-friendly, intelligent material that does not use water and can be applied as an advantageous military stealth material and electromagnetic blocking material, etc. Electrospinning can be applied to breathable fabrics, toxic chemical resistance, fibrous drug delivery systems, and nanoliposomes, etc. 3D printing can be used in various fields, such as core-sheath fibers and artificial organs, etc. Conductive materials include metal nanowires, polypyrrole, polyaniline, and CNT (Carbon Nano Tube), and can be used in actuators and light-emitting devices. When shape-memory materials deform into a temporary shape, they can return to their original shape in response to external stimuli. This study attempted to examine in-depth hybrid fiber materials and manufacturing technologies.

Advances in the Robustness of Wearable Electronic Textiles: Strategies, Stability, Washability and Perspective

Flexible electronic textiles are the future of wearable technology with a diverse application potential inspired by the Internet of Things (IoT) to improve all aspects of wearer life by replacing traditional bulky, rigid, and uncomfortable wearable electronics. The inherently prominent characteristics exhibited by textile substrates make them ideal candidates for designing user-friendly wearable electronic textiles for high-end variant applications. Textile substrates (fiber, yarn, fabric, and garment) combined with nanostructured electroactive materials provide a universal pathway for the researcher to construct advanced wearable electronics compatible with the human body and other circumstances. However, e-textiles are found to be vulnerable to physical deformation induced during repeated wash and wear. Thus, e-textiles need to be robust enough to withstand such challenges involved in designing a reliable product and require more attention for substantial advancement in stability and washability. As a step toward reliable devices, we present this comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art advances in substrate geometries, modification, fabrication, and standardized washing strategies to predict a roadmap toward sustainability. Furthermore, current challenges, opportunities, and future aspects of durable e-textiles development are envisioned to provide a conclusive pathway for researchers to conduct advanced studies.