Graphene-based wearable textile electronic fiber

Graphene can be used to integrate electronic components directly into fabrics for the next generation of smart textiles. Graphene demonstrates again and again its versatility in materials science, electronics and many other scientific applications. Now, researchers are using so-called "magic materials" to achieve new goals - helping them create smart textiles that are cheap, durable and mass produced. A team of international scientists led by Monica Craciun, a professor at the University of Exeter in the UK, developed a technology that uses graphene to make electronic fibers that can be incorporated into everyday clothing.

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Craciun said at a news conference that the team has applied lightweight and durable electronic components to electronic fibers, allowing the electronic devices to be completely interwoven in the fabric of the material.

Specifically, researchers use existing polypropylene fibers - already used in many commercial applications in the textile industry - to connect new graphene-based electronic fibers to create touch sensors and light-emitting devices, she said.

This technology differs from many current solutions in that it develops wearable electronic devices that substantially bond the device to the fabric. She said these methods are flawed because they produce hard textiles that are prone to failure and are not comfortable for the person wearing them.

Craciun points out that the new technology means that fabrics can integrate wearable displays into clothing without the need for electrodes, wires or other materials. “It’s critical for real-world wearable devices to be integrated into the material rather than simply adding it to the material.”

Craciun's team includes not only researchers at the University of Exeter, but also universities in Aveiro and Lisbon, Portugal, and CenTexBel in Belgium. The researchers published a work on Pep on them - [R Nature Magazine Soft Electronics.

While wearable electronic products and apparel with integrated electronic devices already exist, researchers believe their invention can significantly expand the development of wearable electronic devices for everyday applications. They can also be used to diversify some devices that have been used for health monitoring, such as heart rate, blood pressure and other diagnostic wearable devices.

The key to the design is graphene, which is the thinnest conductive material known. Elies Torres Alonso, a research scientist at Graphenea and a former PhD student at the Exceracian Craciun team, says combining this with its inherent strength and flexibility makes it an ideal choice for developing smart textiles.

"This new study opens the way for smart textiles to play a key role in many areas in the near future," he said. “By weaving graphene fibers into fabrics, we have created a new technology that fully integrates electronics into textiles. From now on, the only limitation is our own imagination.”

Elizabeth Montalbano is a freelance writer who has written 20 years of technology and culture. She has worked as a professional journalist in Phoenix, San Francisco and New York City. In her free time, she enjoys surfing, travel, music, yoga and cooking. She currently lives in a village on the southwest coast of Portugal.