Flexible MXene-Decorated Fabric with Interwoven Conductive Networks for Integrated Joule Heating, Electromagnetic Interference Shielding, and Strain Sensing Performances

Abstract

Although flexible and multifunctional textile-based electronics are promising for wearable devices, it is still a challenge to seamlessly integrate excellent conductivity into textiles without sacrificing their intrinsic flexibility and breathability. Herein, the vertically interconnected conductive networks are constructed based on a meshy template of weave cotton fabrics with interwoven warp and weft yarns. The two-dimensional early transition metal carbides/nitrides (MXenes), with unique metallic conductivity and hydrophilic surfaces, are uniformly and intimately attached to the preformed fabric via a spray-drying coating approach. Through adjusting the spray-drying cycles, the degree of conductive interconnectivity for the fabrics is precisely tuned, thereby affording highly conductive and breathable fabrics with integrated Joule heating, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and strain sensing performances. Interestingly, triggered by the interwoven conductive architecture, the MXene-decorated fabrics with a low loading of 6 wt % (0.78 mg cm–2) offer an outstanding electrical conductivity of 5 Ω sq–1. The promising electrical conductivity further endows the fabrics with superior Joule heating performance with a heating temperature up to 150 °C at a supply voltage of 6 V, excellent EMI shielding performance, and highly sensitive strain responses to human motion. Consequently, this work offers a novel strategy for the versatile design of multifunctional textile-based wearable devices.

Metallisation of Textiles and Protection of Conductive Layers: An Overview of Application Techniques

“…Due to the increasing demand for exceptional conductive and electrochemical properties for specific application in wearable textiles, conductive polymers and carbon-based materials have been combined with emerging MXenes [131,132] to fabricate multifunctional e-textiles by spraying. Otherwise, MXenes themselves have already shown their great application in integrated Joule heating, electromagnetic interference shielding and strain sensing when sprayed on fabrics by forming conductive networks (Figure 7c) [127]. Moreover, Mxenes have been incorporated into cellulose-based yarns for textile-based electronic devices [128].…”

Flexible, Stretchable, and Multifunctional Electrospun Polyurethane Mats with 0D‐1D‐2D Ternary Nanocomposite‐Based Conductive Networks

“…Various researches on the compound of conductive materials and flexible substrates have emerged. For example, Cai and co-workers designed a versatile and scalable strain sensor based on transition metal carbides or nitrides MXene (Ti 3 C 2 T X ), carbon and excellent hydrophilicity, MXene (Ti 3 C 2 T X ) have manifested superior performance in fields of energy storage, [21] sensors, [7,22] batteries, [23] electromagnetic shielding, [24] thermal management, [24,25] and other eco-friendly applications. [26] In addition, the presence of sufficient functional groups (O, OH, F, etc.)…”

“…[27] Zhang et al constructed flexible and MXene-decorated textile electronics based on vertically interconnected conductive network, demonstrating an integrated Joule heating, EMI shielding, and strain sensing performances. [25] Li et al reported a multifunctional composite film with nacre-like nanostructure based on MXene and montmorillonite, which were highly promising for electromagnetic shielding, de-icing, thermal management, and fire protection. [28] Furthermore, it has been reported that Ag NPs can effectively enhance the sensitivity.…”

“…[ 19 ] MXene (Ti 3 C 2 T X ) can be synthesized by selectively etching Al atom layers from MAX phase (Ti 3 AlC 2 ) through two main methods, one is etched with hydrofluoric acid and the other is etched with hydrochloric acid (HCl) and lithium fluoride (LiF). [ 20 ] Because of the ultrahigh intrinsic metallic conductivity, stable mechanical properties, and excellent hydrophilicity, MXene (Ti 3 C 2 T X ) have manifested superior performance in fields of energy storage, [ 21 ] sensors, [ 7,22 ] batteries, [ 23 ] electromagnetic shielding, [ 24 ] thermal management, [ 24,25 ] and other eco‐friendly applications. [ 26 ] In addition, the presence of sufficient functional groups (O, OH, F, etc.)…”

A Facile Strategy to Fabricate Antistatic Polyamide 1012/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Pipes for Fuel Delivery Applications

“…In order to achieve a conductive polyamide, several methods have been adopted in recent years, which can be classified into two types according to the categories of antistatic agents. First, conductive nanoparticles [ 8 , 9 ], including carbon nanotubes [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ], graphene [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ] and carbon black [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ], have been popular for use in fabricating polyamide-based nanocomposites. Here, enhancing the interfacial adhesion between nanopowders and the corresponding matrix has attracted a great deal of attention as it determines the ultimate properties of the composites.…”