Fiber‐Shaped Electronic Devices

Abstract

Textile electronics embedded in clothing represent an exciting new frontier for modern healthcare and communication systems. Fundamental to the development of these textile electronics is the development of the fibers forming the cloths into electronic devices. An electronic fiber must undergo diverse scrutiny for its selection for a multifunctional textile, viz., from the material selection to the device architecture, from the wearability to mechanical stresses, and from the environmental compatibility to the end‐use management. Herein, the performance requirements of fiber‐shaped electronics are reviewed considering the characteristics of single electronic fibers and their assemblies in smart clothing. Broadly, this article includes i) processing strategies of electronic fibers with required properties from precursor to material, ii) the state‐of‐art of current fiber‐shaped electronics emphasizing light‐emitting devices, solar cells, sensors, nanogenerators, supercapacitors storage, and chromatic devices, iii) mechanisms involved in the operation of the above devices, iv) limitations of the current materials and device manufacturing techniques to achieve the target performance, and v) the knowledge gap that must be minimized prior to their deployment. Lessons learned from this review with regard to the challenges and prospects for developing fiber‐shaped electronic components are presented as directions for future research on wearable electronics.

Recent Advances in Inorganic Electrochromic Materials from Synthesis to Applications: Critical Review on Functional Chemistry and Structure Engineering

“…It′s not hard to find that the studies of Yun and Yan all use polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) embedded with AgNW as the conductive substrate owing to its softness and flexibility. Similarly, carbon‐based materials (e. g., reduced graphene oxide, graphene nanoribbons) have also been utilized to develop conducting fiber materials, which enable an excellent conductivity along with good stretchability [84] . While, typical planar ECDs generally requires two parallel electrodes, which makes the implementation and assembly of ECDs on the fiber surface a huge challenge.…”

“…Similarly, carbon-based materials (e. g., reduced graphene oxide, graphene nanoribbons) have also been utilized to develop conducting fiber materials, which enable an excellent conductivity along with good stretchability. [84] While, typical planar ECDs generally requires two parallel electrodes, which makes the implementation and assembly of ECDs on the fiber surface a huge challenge. Some literatures had proposed that ECDs can be implemented on commercially available stainless steel wires (SSWs), [85] PANI-coated aligned CNT, [86] dual helix metal electrodes along a plastic fiber substrate [87] and so on.…”

“…Some literatures had proposed that ECDs can be implemented on commercially available stainless steel wires (SSWs), [85] PANI‐coated aligned CNT, [86] dual helix metal electrodes along a plastic fiber substrate [87] and so on. Although these studies ensure the flexibility, conductivity and rapid color‐switching of wearable EC materials, the stability of ECDs still limits their practical application [84] . The identification of their practical applications needs further investigation.…”

“…Although these studies ensure the flexibility, conductivity and rapid color-switching of wearable EC materials, the stability of ECDs still limits their practical application. [84] The identification of their practical applications needs further investigation.…”

High‐Performance and Reliable White Organic Light‐Emitting Fibers for Truly Wearable Textile Displays

“…In particular, for various applications, including energy devices, [ 10,11 ] sensors, [ 12,13 ] switches, [ 14,15 ] circuits, [ 16 ] and light‐emitting devices, [ 17 ] fiber‐based electronics (fibertronics), have attracted considerable attention as an advanced form‐factor due to their distinct advantages resulting from their cylindrical geometry, which is different from other free‐form factors. [ 18 ] However, the cylindrical form of fibers has both advantages and disadvantages. Unlike conventional 2D planar devices, there are not only functional advantages, including lightweight and breathability, but also differentiated deformability such that they can withstand various user‐induced curvatures because of their flexibility in all directions.…”