Healable Cotton-Graphene Nanocomposite Conductor for Wearable Electronics

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Textile Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Electrically conductive materials are crucial for advancing wearable electronics.
• Cotton-based materials offer potential for comfortable and breathable wearable applications.
• Developing durable and functional conductive textiles remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop flexible and electrically conductive cotton fabrics.
• To investigate the durability and self-healing properties of these nanocomposite fabrics.
• To evaluate their suitability for wearable electronic applications.

Main Methods:

• Impregnation of cotton fabrics with graphene and thermoplastic polyurethane dispersions.
• Characterization of electrical conductivity (∼10 Ω/sq).
• Testing resilience against folding, laundry cycles, and environmental aging (solar irradiation, humidity).
• Evaluation of mechanical properties and breathability.

Main Results:

• Achieved flexible and conductive cotton fabrics with sheet resistance of ∼10 Ω/sq.
• Nanocomposite fabrics demonstrated high resilience to severe folding and repeated laundry cycles.
• Folding-induced microcracks were repairable via hot-pressing, restoring conductivity.
• The treated fabrics exhibited superior mechanical properties and retained breathability compared to controls.
• Excellent resistance to environmental aging, including solar irradiation and high humidity.

Conclusions:

• Graphene and polyurethane-impregnated cotton fabrics offer a promising platform for durable, flexible, and repairable conductive textiles.
• These materials maintain essential textile properties like breathability while gaining electrical functionality.
• The developed fabrics are suitable for demanding applications in wearable electronics and beyond.