The next generation of waterproof smart fabrics will be laser printed and made in minutes after researchers create new e-textile technology with conductive graphene elements using a combo of CO2 and ultra fast lasers
RMIT University (Melbourne, Australia) scientists have developed a cost-efficient and scalable method for rapidly producing fabricating textiles that are made with energy storage devices.
The new method can produce a 10 x 10 cm smart-textile patch that is not only waterproof, but stretchable and readily integrated with energy-harvesting technologies.
The new technology enables graphene supercapacitors – long-lasting energy storage devices that can be easily combined with solar or other sources of power – to be laser printed onto textiles.
The ever growing smart fabrics industry offers diverse applications in wearable devices for the consumer, healthcare and defense sectors – from monitoring vital signals of patients to track the location and health status of soldiers in the field.
Dr. Litty Thekkakara, a researcher in RMIT’s School of Science, had this to say about the latest laser printing technology:
“Current approaches to smart textile energy storage, like stitching batteries into garments or using e-fibres, can be cumbersome and heavy, and can also have capacity issues,” Thekkakara said.
“These electronic components can also suffer short-circuits and mechanical failure when they come into contact with sweat or with moisture from the environment.
“Our graphene-based supercapacitor is not only fully washable, it can store the energy needed to power an intelligent garment – and it can be made in minutes at large scale.
“By solving the energy storage-related challenges of e-textiles, we hope to power the next generation of wearable technology and intelligent clothing.”
Dr Litty Thekkakara, RMIT researcher and co-developer of new technology for rapidly fabricating textiles embedded with energy storage devices.
The research analyzed the performance of the proof-of-concept smart textile was found stable and efficient despite being faced with mechanical, temperature and washability tests.
Min Gu, RMIT Honorary Professor and Distinguished Professor at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, said the technology could enable real-time storage of renewable energies for e-textiles.
“It also opens the possibility for faster roll-to-roll fabrication, with the use of advanced laser printing based on multifocal fabrication and machine learning techniques,” Gu said.
Researchers have since applied for a patent for the new technology, which was developed with the full support of RMIT Seed Fund and Design Hub project grants.
