Machine-Washable PEDOT:PSS Dyed Silk Yarns for Electronic Textiles

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Textile Engineering
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Electronic textiles (e-textiles) require durable, electrically conductive yarns.
• Existing conductive yarns often lack sufficient wear and wash resistance for practical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop highly durable and electrically conductive silk yarns for e-textile applications.
• To investigate the properties and potential applications of dyed silk yarns.

Main Methods:

• Silk fibers from Bombyx mori were dyed with the conjugated polymer:polyelectrolyte complex PEDOT:PSS.
• The mechanical, electrical, and stability properties of the dyed yarns were characterized.
• An in-plane thermoelectric module was fabricated using the dyed yarns via embroidery.

Main Results:

• The dyed silk yarns exhibited exceptional wear and wash resistance.
• Yarns maintained bulk electrical conductivity (approx. 14 S cm^-1) under repeated bending and sewing stress.
• High Young's modulus (approx. 2 GPa) and ambient stability were achieved.
• Long yarns (up to 40 m) were successfully produced.
• A 26-leg in-plane thermoelectric module was demonstrated.

Conclusions:

• Dyeing silk with PEDOT:PSS offers a scalable method for producing robust conductive yarns for e-textiles.
• The developed yarns possess properties suitable for integration into wearable electronic devices.
• The demonstrated thermoelectric module highlights the potential of these conductive yarns in energy harvesting applications.