Intrinsically Stretchable and Conductive Textile by a Scalable Process for Elastic Wearable Electronics

Abstract

The prosperous development of stretchable electronics poses a great demand on stretchable conductive materials that could maintain their electrical conductivity under tensile strain. Previously reported strategies to obtain stretchable conductors usually involve complex structure-fabricating processes or utilization of high-cost nanomaterials. It remains a great challenge to produce stretchable and conductive materials via a scalable and cost-effective process. Herein, a large-scalable pyrolysis strategy is developed for the fabrication of intrinsically stretchable and conductive textile in utilizing low-cost and mass-produced weft-knitted textiles as raw materials. Due to the intrinsic stretchability of the weft-knitted structure and the excellent mechanical and electrical properties of the as-obtained carbonized fibers, the obtained flexible and durable textile could sustain tensile strains up to 125% while keeping a stable electrical conductivity (as shown by a Modal-based textile), thus ensuring its applications in elastic electronics. For demonstration purposes, stretchable supercapacitors and wearable thermal-therapy devices that showed stable performance with the loading of tensile strains have been fabricated. Considering the simplicity and large scalability of the process, the low-cost and mass production of the raw materials, and the superior performances of the as-obtained elastic and conductive textile, this strategy would contribute to the development and industrial production of wearable electronics.

Materials and Structures toward Soft Electronics

“…On the fabric level, various methods can be used to produce textile fabrics from fibers and yarns, including weaving, knitting, felting, lacemaking, and braiding . Among them, woven fabric and knitted fabric are commonly used for textile electronics (image (iv) in Figure a) . Woven fabrics are generally composed of two sets of yarns, interlaced at certain angles.…”

Inkjet Process for Conductive Patterning on Textiles: Maintaining Inherent Stretchability and Breathability in Knit Structures

“…While wearable technology is a highly intriguing and interdisciplinary field both in academic research and industry, incorporating desired properties of materials and efficient processing techniques is crucial and challenging . Achieving high electrical conductivity is not the only goal in wearable electronics, since maintaining flexibility, breathability, permeability, and durability, which are fundamental features, is characteristic to the textile itself to consider for the use case scenario …”

Electrically conductive highly elastic polyamide/lycra fabric treated with PEDOT:PSS and polyurethane

“…Conductive textiles are the most integral parts of e-textiles. Conductive textiles have been produced by several approaches including electroless metal deposition [9], inserting metal wires in the fabric [2], using intrinsically conductive fibers and yarns [10], coating with conductive polymers [11][12][13], in situ polymerization of conductive polymers on the fabrics [14,15], and pyrolysis of the textile [16].…”