Recent Advances in Reversible Thermochromic Materials for Smart Textiles: A Review

Reversible thermochromic materials change color in response to temperature variations and hold significant potential in smart textiles. Their reversible color-changing property not only offers temperature indication and enhances textile performance but also promotes smart textile development. This is achieved by improving the intelligence, multifunctionality, and environmental adaptability of textiles. This review summarizes the characteristics and recent advancements of reversible thermochromic materials, including leuco dye-based organic systems and other organic, liquid crystal (LC), inorganic, and photonic crystal (PC) types. It emphasizes recent progress in integrating these materials into textiles through techniques such as microencapsulation, printing and dyeing, and fiber fabrication. Furthermore, this review systematically examines applications of reversible thermochromic materials in smart textiles, covering areas such as anti-counterfeiting, temperature-sensitive regulation, and aesthetic enhancement. Current challenges, including limited stability, inadequate wash durability, and low color sensitivity, are also addressed, alongside potential development directions. The aim of this review is to provide a theoretical foundation and technical guidance for designing and developing reversible thermochromic smart textiles.