Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have made a breakthrough in producing soft, recyclable fibres for smart textiles. This novel method enables the creation of strong, stretchable, electrically conductive, and recyclable fibres at room temperature and pressure, overcoming the challenges posed by conventional methods.
The development of smart textiles has opened up numerous possibilities for wearable technology applications, ranging from therapeutics to sensing and communication.
Inspired by the way spiders spin silk to build webs, Assistant Professor Tan Swee Ching and a team of researchers from NUS’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, in collaboration with international partners, have devised an innovative method for producing soft fibres with these three crucial properties.
The fabrication process can be conducted at room temperature and pressure, and it utilises less solvent and energy, making it an attractive option for producing functional soft fibres for various smart applications.
The biomimetic spinning process, combined with the unique formulation of the gel solution, allows for the production of soft fibres that possess three key properties: strength, stretchability, and electrical conductivity. Stress tests confirmed the mechanical properties of the fibres, while molecular-level analysis confirmed their electrical conductivity, attributed to the presence of silver ions in the gel.
In addition to their functional properties, the PANSion soft fibres contribute to sustainability efforts. They can be recycled by dissolving them in DMF, allowing the material to be converted back into a gel solution for spinning new fibres. This spider-inspired method of spinning consumes significantly less energy and requires a lower volume of chemicals compared to current fibre-spinning methods.
