New Fiber Uses Human Body in Circuit for Chipless Smart Textiles
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 05, 2024

Researchers have developed a flexible electronic fiber that incorporates the human body into its circuit, marking a significant advance in the creation of textiles embedded with electronic capabilities without relying on chips or batteries. This innovation, heralded by Donghua University's team, opens new avenues for producing wearable technologies that are both scalable and comfortable, extending their potential uses from health monitoring to interactive smart-home devices. Traditional challenges in embedding electronics directly into fabric-such as the need for rigid components and concerns over durability and comfort-have been addressed by the team's development of a thin, soft fiber. This fiber, described as an "interactive fiber" or i-fiber, is notable for its ability to harvest ambient electromagnetic energy for power, thereby enabling wireless visual-digital interactions.

The i-fiber's unique structure includes a core that generates an electromagnetic field, a middle layer that captures electromagnetic energy from the human body, and an outer optical layer that visually represents this energy. Demonstrating versatility, the i-fiber maintains its functionality through conventional textile production processes, such as weaving, sewing, and embroidery, and exhibits resilience against factors like washing, dyeing, and exposure to moisture.

In their study, the researchers showcased the fiber's practical applications by integrating it into clothing with an interactive touchpad and display, which operates without external power, and a carpet that visually responds to touch. These demonstrations underscore the potential for this technology to revolutionize the way electronic functionalities are incorporated into everyday textiles.

This breakthrough, discussed in a perspective by Yunzhu Li and Yiyue Luo, lays the groundwork for future innovations in functional fibers, promising a new era of wearable electronics that are seamlessly integrated into our lives.

Research Report:Single body-coupled fiber enables chipless textile electronics

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