Green Conducting Cellulose Yarns for Machine-Sewn Electronic Textiles

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Textile Engineering
• Sustainable Electronics

Background:

• Growing demand for sustainable electronics to mitigate e-waste and resource depletion.
• Electronic textiles (e-textiles) offer potential for integrating functionality into wearable applications.
• Need for eco-friendly and functional materials for advanced e-textiles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop electrically conducting wood-based yarns for green e-textile applications.
• To achieve high conductivity and durability in cellulose-based e-textile materials.
• To demonstrate the integration of these yarns into functional electronic devices.

Main Methods:

• Roll-to-roll coating of wood-based yarns with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) ink.
• Incorporation of silver nanowires to enhance conductivity.
• Fabrication of organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) and thermoelectric textile devices.

Main Results:

• Achieved a record bulk conductivity of 36 S/cm for cellulose yarns, increased to 181 S/cm with silver nanowires.
• Demonstrated retained conductivity after at least five machine wash cycles.
• Successfully fabricated functional OECTs and an out-of-plane thermoelectric textile device generating 0.2 μW.

Conclusions:

• Wood-based yarns coated with PEDOT:PSS represent a viable green material for e-textiles.
• The developed e-textile yarns offer a sustainable platform for wearable sensing and energy harvesting.
• This approach facilitates the creation of functional, durable, and washable electronic textiles using accessible manufacturing methods.