Chinese scientists have developed a new solar-powered fabric that works like a smartphone and could have navigation, communications, safety, and healthcare applications. The futuristic garment could improve safety for emergency responders, motorists, and cyclists. For example, a jacket could display a ‘textile map’ on the sleeve—instantly.
The inexpensive material, made from conductive and luminescent fibers with cotton, turns a jacket into a touch screen. According to SWNS news agency, the new fabric could be in the shops by this coming Christmas.
While researchers have promised wearable technology for years, making large displays integrated with functional systems has proved challenging.
However, the scientists at Shanghai’s Fudan University overcame this obstacle with a remarkable display textile nearly 20 ft long and 10 inches wide. “The cloth is flexible, breathable, and durable—making it ideal for the real world,” said Professor Huisheng Peng, the corresponding author who described the new electronic fabric in the journal Nature on March 10, 2021.
Prof. Peng explained:
Conventional solid-state materials are not readily compatible with textiles because they struggle to withstand the natural deformation that occurs when fabrics are worn and washed.
The new textile survived 1,000 cycles of stretching, pressing, and bending, while brightness remained after 100 washing and drying cycles.
In experiments, the electronic fabric worked as a navigation tool displaying an interactive map. It also demonstrated its communication features by sending or retrieving messages via Bluetooth with a smartphone. “It’s integrated with a touch-sensitive fabric keyboard and power supply that harvests solar energy,” he added.
According to Prof. Peng, the display is produced by illuminating units that form where the luminescent and conductive fibers meet at interaction points in the woven fabric.
The scientists first prepared two kinds of fiber electrodes – one covered with active material and the other elastic and transparent. Then, they weaved them together as yarns to create the display textile. The resulting fabric is highly flexible and was demonstrated in three typical applications.
Peng said:
They are not just conceptions. In fact, we can produce such display textiles at a large scale with a low cost. We are already providing them to companies. I think they will start to be used this year—at least, no later than next year.
With the addition of more applications, this new textile is expected to shape the next generation of electronic communication tools. The potential is massive – both for the private and public sectors. Road workers, security guards, and police officers can wear them at night to be safer.
The team also envisions this eventually being able to convert brain waves into signals on clothing, which would be particularly useful for people with disabilities or who cannot speak.
Earlier this year, we saw computer science professor Jürgen Steimle and his colleagues at Saarland University produce a dyeing process that gives fabric electronic properties.
