Spatially Programmable Electromechanical Response Enabled by Designed Island-Bridge Conductive Fibers for...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Textile Engineering

Background:

• Integrating conductivity, stretchability, and mechanical/electrical performance in fibers is crucial for wearable technology.
• Existing materials often face challenges in achieving a balance of these properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop highly stretchable, recyclable composite conductive fibers with exceptional electromechanical stability.
• To create a sustainable platform for next-generation multimodal smart textiles.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of composite fibers using wet-spinning with liquid metal particles (LMPs) and carboxylated carbon nanotubes (CNT-COOH) in a polyurethane matrix.
• Utilizing ultrasound activation to form a hierarchical dual-network structure (LMP_Net-CNT_Net).
• Characterization of conductivity, tensile strength, strain-insensitive charge transport, and cyclic stability.

Main Results:

• Achieved high conductivity (3.22 × 10³ S·m^-1) and tensile strength (6.6 MPa).
• Demonstrated strain-insensitive charge transport (ΔR < 1.3 Ω·cm^-1 at 100% strain) and minimal resistance drift (1.6% over 2000 cycles).
• Enabled high-power transmission, precision Joule heating, and motion sensing; retained >80% performance after five recycling cycles.

Conclusions:

• The developed LMP_Net-CNT_Net composite fibers offer a robust and sustainable solution for advanced wearable applications.
• The hierarchical dual-network structure and ultrasonic activation provide a versatile platform for multimodal functionalities.
• Closed-loop recycling capability enhances the material's sustainability for future smart textiles.