Durable, Washable and High-Performance Conductive Textiles

Using low-cost technology to manufacture high-performance conductive textiles for wearable electronics

In this new method for preparing electrically conductive textiles, the textile surface is modified with a negatively-charged polyelectrolyte poly(methacrylic acid sodium salt) (PMANa) or poly(acrylic acid sodium salt) (PAANa) by in-situ free radical polymerization, and then treated with electroless metal deposition. The as-fabricated conductive textiles preserve robust mechanical and electrical stability under repeated cycles of rubbing, stretching and washing. They can be integrated into wearable electronics to replace the conventional rigid conductive electrodes and wires.

Special Features and Advantages

The negatively charged polymer interfacial layer that bridged the deposited metal and the textile surface provides the metal layer with outstanding adhesion properties and good washing durability.
The method is low cost (without expensive catalyst) and readily applicable to the industry to develop scale production of high performance conductive textiles.

Applications

Flexible electronic interconnects, contacts and electrodes, especially for wearable electronics, smart textile and fashion
EMI shielding, electrostatic discharge, thermal control materials

Award & Patent

Sliver Medal - 43rd International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, Switzerland (April 2015)

Patent Application No.:

15102150.5 (HK)

Principal Investigator

Prof. Zijian ZHENG

Institute of Textiles and Clothing

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Durable, Washable and High-Performance Conductive Textiles

Using low-cost technology to manufacture high-performance conductive textiles for wearable electronics