Through the use of miracle material graphene, the new impetus to create “smart textiles” that are reasonably priced, durable and mass-produced has been promoted.

A team of international scientists led by Monica Craciun, a professor of engineering at the University of Exeter, has created a new technology that can create all-electronic fibers that can be integrated into everyday clothing production.

Graphene brings new potential to “smart textiles”

Currently, wearable electronic devices are achieved by substantially bonding the devices to the fabric, which may mean that they are too rigid and prone to failure.

New research integrates electronic devices into the fabric of materials, allowing the images to be displayed directly on the fabric by coating the electronic fibers with lightweight, durable components.

The research team believes that this discovery can revolutionize the production of wearable electronic devices for everyday use, as well as health monitoring such as heart rate and blood pressure, and medical diagnosis.

International collaborative research, including the Graphene Science Center at the University of Exeter, the University of Aveiro and the University of Lisbon in Portugal, and the CenTexBel in Belgium, was published in the scientific journal Flexible Electronics.

Professor Craciun, co-author of the study, said: "The key to achieving truly wearable electronics is that these components can be integrated into the material rather than simply being added to the material.

Graphenea research scientist Dr. Elias Torres Alonso and former PhD student of the Exeter Dr. Craciun team added: "This new study opens the way for smart textiles to play a key role in many areas in the near future. Weaving graphene fibers to In fabrics, we have created a new technology that fully integrates electronic products into textiles. The only limitation now is in our own imagination."

Graphene is only one atom thick and is the thinnest substance that can conduct electricity. It is very flexible and is one of the most famous materials. In recent years, scientists and engineers have been working hard to make graphene suitable for wearable electronic devices.

The new study uses existing polypropylene fibers - commonly used in many commercial applications in the textile industry - to connect new graphene-based electronic fibers to create touch sensors and light-emitting devices.

New technology means that fabrics can contain real wearable displays without the need for electrodes and wires for additional materials.

Professor Saverio Russo, co-author of the Department of Physics at the University of Exeter, added: "The use of electronic devices on fabrics is something that scientists have tried to produce over the years and is a real change in the rules of the game for modern people. Technology ."

Dr. Ana Neves, co-author and Exeter Engineering added: "The key to this new technology is the flexibility, comfort and lightness of textile fibers, while being durable enough to meet the demands of modern life."

In 2015, a team of international scientists, including Professor Scracun of the University of Exeter, Professor Russo and Dr. Ana Neves, pioneered a new technology that embeds transparent, flexible graphene electrodes into fibers commonly associated with the textile industry.