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UV/NIR-Light-Triggered Rapid and Reversible Color Switching for Rewritable Smart Fabrics
Daniel K Macharia1, Sharjeel Ahmed1, Bo Zhu1
1State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, International Joint Laboratory for Advanced Fiber and Low-Dimension Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering , Donghua University , Shanghai 201620 , P. R. China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|March 20, 2019
Summary
Researchers developed a novel smart fabric for ink-free, rewritable clothing. This photoreversible color-switching system (PCSS) uses TiO2-x nanorods for rapid, remote printing and erasure with light, revolutionizing textile applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Photochemistry
- Textile Engineering
Background:
- Specialized clothing requires advanced functionalities like remote, rapid, and ink-free printing/erasure.
- Existing photoreversible color-switching systems (PCSS) face obstacles hindering the development of smart fabrics.
- The need for innovative solutions in fashion, aesthetics, and security drives the development of rewritable textiles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel photoreversible color-switching system (PCSS) for smart fabrics.
- To enable rapid, remote, and ink-free printing and erasure on fabrics.
- To create rewritable smart fabrics for aesthetic and security applications.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of TiO2-x nanorods as photocatalytic and photothermal components.
- Incorporation of redox dyes as reversible color indicators and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) as a polymer matrix.
- Coating the TiO2-x/dye/HEC system onto poly(dimethylsiloxane)-treated cotton fabric.
Main Results:
- Discoloration achieved in 180 s under 365 nm light irradiation via photocatalytic dye reduction.
- Rapid recoloration in ~100 s under 808 nm light irradiation due to photothermal effect of TiO2-x.
- Demonstrated high cycle stability for printing/erasing figures and letters on commercial clothing.
Conclusions:
- The developed TiO2-x/dye/HEC-based PCSS enables efficient, light-induced color switching on fabrics.
- The system offers significantly faster recoloration compared to traditional heating methods.
- This rewritable smart fabric technology presents a viable alternative for dynamic aesthetic and camouflage needs in clothing.
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