Revolutionary Cotton-Based Fiber Paves the Way for Smart Textiles

Researchers at Washington State University have developed a single strand of fiber that combines the flexibility of cotton with the electric conductivity of a polymer called polyaniline. The material has potential for use in wearable e-textiles and can be integrated into apparel as sensor patches with flexible circuits. Applications include uniforms for firefighters, soldiers, and workers handling chemicals to detect hazardous exposures, as well as health monitoring or exercise shirts. 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 the fiber.