スマート・テキスタイル用の新しい導電性綿ベース繊維を開発(New conductive, cotton-based fiber developed for smart textiles)

2023-12-12

2023-12-11 ワシントン州立大学(WSU)

◆ワシントン州立大学の研究者は、柔軟性が綿に匹敵し、導電性を有する新しい繊維を開発しました。この繊維はLEDライトを動かすシステムやアンモニアガスを感知するセンサーなど、様々な用途に適しています。将来的には、制服や健康モニタリング、高機能なエクササイズシャツなどの応用が期待されます。
◆繊維は、リサイクルTシャツから取られた綿セルロースと導電性ポリマーを組み合わせて製造され、良好な界面結合を実現しました。

＜関連情報＞

ウェアブル電子テキスタイルのためのセルロースベースの導電性複合繊維の新しい構造設計 A novel structural design of cellulose-based conductive composite fibers for wearable e-textiles

Wangcheng Liu, Hang Liu, Zihui Zhao, Dan Liang, Wei-Hong Zhong, Jinwen Zhang
Carbohydrate Polymers Available online: 18 August 2023
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.121308

Abstract

Cellulose-based conductive composite fibers hold great promise in smart wearable applications, given cellulose’s desirable properties for textiles. Blending conductive fillers with cellulose is the most common means of fiber production. Incorporating a high content of conductive fillers is demanded to achieve desirable conductivity. However, a high filler load deteriorates the processability and mechanical properties of the fibers. Here, developing wet-spun cellulose-based fibers with a unique side-by-side (SBS) structure via sustainable processing is reported. Sustainable sources (cotton linter and post-consumer cotton waste) and a biocompatible intrinsically conductive polymer (i.e., polyaniline, PANI) were engineered into fibers containing two co-continuous phases arranged side-by-side. One phase was neat cellulose serving as the substrate and providing good mechanical properties; another phase was a PANI-rich cellulose blend (50 wt%) affording electrical conductivity. Additionally, an eco-friendly LiOH/urea solvent system was adopted for the fiber spinning process. With the proper control of processing parameters, the SBS fibers demonstrated high conductivity and improved mechanical properties compared to single-phase cellulose and PANI blended fibers. The SBS fibers demonstrated great potential for wearable e-textile applications.