Experiment with ionofibers. Credit: Claude Huniade
Electronically conductive fibers are already used in smart textiles, but in a recently published research article ionic conductive fibers have been shown to be of growing interest. The so-called ionofibers achieve greater flexibility, durability and match the type of conduction used by our body. In the future they can be used for items such as textile stacks, textile display cases and textile muscles.
The research project, which appears in Advanced materials technologiesis conducted by doctoral student Claude Huniade at the University of Borås, Sweden, and is a track within a larger project, Weafing, which aims to develop new and unprecedented clothing for the haptic stimulation including flexible and portable textile actuators and sensors. .
In Claude Huniade’s project the aim is to produce conductive wires without conductive metals.
“My research is about producing electrically conductive textile fibers and ultimately yarns, coating non-metals sustainably in commercial yarns. The biggest challenge is in balancing the maintenance of textile properties with adding conductive characteristic.” says Claude Huniade.
Currently, the uniqueness of his research lies in the strategies used in coating. These strategies extend to the processes and materials used.
Ionic liquid
One of the clues Huniade is investigating is a new type of material used as a textile coating: ionic liquids in combination with commercial textile fibers. Like salt water, they conduct electricity, but without water. Ionic liquid is a more stable electrolyte than salt water, as nothing evaporates.
“The processable aspect is an important requirement, as textile manufacturing can be hard with textile fibers, especially when their use is increased. Fibers can also be made into fabrics or fabrics without mechanically damaging them and preserving the surprisingly, they were even softer to transform into fabrics than the commercial yarns they are made of, “says Huniade.
Ionofibers could be used as sensors, as ionic liquids are sensitive to their environment. For example, ionofibers can detect the change in humidity, but they can also detect any stretching or pressure they are subjected to.
“Ionofibers could really shine when combined with other materials or devices that require electrolytes. Ionofibers allow certain phenomena that are currently limited to liquids to be lightly feasible in air. Applications are multiple and unique, for example for to textile batteries., textile displays or textile muscles, “says Huniade.
More research is needed to combine ionofibers with other functional fibers to produce unique textile devices.
And how do ionofibers stand out compared to the usual electronically conductive fibers? “Compared to electronically conductive fibers, ionofibers are different in the way they conduct electricity. They are less conductive, but provide other properties that electronically conductive fibers often do not have. Ionofibers achieve greater flexibility, durability and match “The type of conduction used by our body actually matches the presence of electricity in nature better than electronically conducting fibers,” concludes Huniade.
Scientists are developing a fully woven smart screen. More information: Claude Huniade et al, Ionofibers: Ionically Conductive Textile Fibers for Conformal i-Textiles, Advanced materials technologies (2022). DOI: 10.1002 / admt.202101692
Provided by the University of Borås
Citation: Ionic Conductive Fibers Provide New Track for Smart and Functional Textiles (2022, June 13) Retrieved June 13, 2022
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