Korean scientists have developed graphene-based, customised e-textiles for the first time in the world.
- Instead of using toxic chemicals or optical masks for patterning, the research team used laser direct patterning technology to form laser-induced graphene (LIG) on e-textiles and successfully manufactured graphene-based e-textiles.
THE TEAM: The joint research team at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) led by principal researcher Soongeun Kwon and Professor Young-Jin Kim has published their findings in ACS Nano in a paper titled, ‘Multimodal E-Textile Enabled by One-Step Maskless Patterning of Femtosecond-Laser-Induced Graphene on Nonwoven, Knit, and Woven Textiles.’
THE SCIENCE: Conventionally, e-textiles have been manufactured by coating fabrics with conductive ink to make electrically conductive textiles and then weaving them with generic fabrics, or by attaching a thin, functional layer onto generic fabrics.
- These methods have a low design flexibility and high process complexity. Moreover, harmful chemicals may be leaked during the manufacturing process, which places a limitation on mass production.
- By using the newly developed technology, high-quality LIG materials that have world-class electrical conductivity can be manufactured simply by irradiating laser onto the surface of fabrics.
THE SIGNIFICANCE: A major advantage of this technology is that e-textiles can be manufactured in an environmentally friendly manner, as neither the use of chemicals nor any additional processing is required.
- Meanwhile, the world-class electrical conductivity of LIG electrodes has been realised by applying the femtosecond laser processing technology.
- The newly developed technology can be used in the future for manufacturing industrial and military clothes for personal health management and also for producing customized "smart" clothes in the health care sector.
WHAT THEY SAID:
This technology has been developed by analysing the structures of generic fabrics and realizing them as graphene-based materials that have advanced features of optimal e-textiles. This technology is significantly meaningful in that it allows for the mass production of customized e-textiles using an environment-friendly and simple method.
— Soongeun Kwon
Principal Researcher
Korea Institute of Science and Technology
