Project opens opportunities for wearable electronics
29/11/2016
The process was developed by Dr Felice Torrisi at the CGC. It sees graphene-based conductive inks impregnated into cotton. The researchers believe it is a cheaper, more sustainable and more environmentally-friendly method.
The researchers created inks made from chemically modified graphene flakes, which are more adhesive to cotton fibres than unmodified graphene. Treating the ink with heat after depositing it on the fabrics improves its conductivity.
The modified graphene sticks to the cotton fibres in a similar way to how cotton holds coloured dyes, which means it remains conductive after several washes.
“Turning cotton fibres into functional electronic components can open to an entirely new set of applications from healthcare and well-being to the Internet of Things,” said Dr Torrisi.
Professor Chaoxia Wang of Jiangnan University, who co-authored the study, added: “This method will allow us to put electronic systems directly into clothes. It’s an incredible enabling technology for smart textiles.”
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