Revolutionary Cotton-Based Fiber Paves the Way for Smart Textiles

Researchers at Washington State University have developed a cotton-based fiber that combines the flexibility of cotton with the electric conductivity of a polymer called polyaniline. The material shows potential for use in wearable e-textiles, such as sensor patches integrated into apparel for detecting hazardous exposures or monitoring health. The researchers overcame the challenge of mixing the conductive polymer with cotton cellulose by dissolving cotton cellulose from recycled t-shirts and the conductive polymer into separate solutions, which were then merged together to create a single fiber. The resulting material exhibited good interfacial bonding and could be used in various applications, including smart clothing.