A new research study led by UWE Bristol and the University of Southampton has developed a sustainable approach for biodegradable wearable electronic textiles, known as “e-textiles”, with a lower environmental footprint.
These advanced textiles have the potential to impact how we use textiles in healthcare, sports performance monitoring, and fashion in future by seamlessly integrating electrical components like sensors, batteries, and lights into garments.
The research team’s design, called SWEET (Smart, Wearable, and Eco-friendly Electronic Textiles), addresses the environmental challenges associated with traditional e-textiles that often rely on non-biodegradable metals like silver, making recycling and disposal difficult.
SWEET consists of a three-layer structure:
- A sensing layer
- A sensor interface layer
- A biodegradable base fabric made from Tencel, a renewable material derived from wood pulp
The key innovation lies in inkjet printing to precisely deposit graphene and PEDOT: PSS polymers onto the fabric to create the electronic components.
Graphene is a form of carbon consisting of a single layer of atoms arranged in a two-dimensional honeycomb lattice.
It has exceptional electrical and thermal conductivity properties.
PEDOT: PSS is a conductive polymer that facilitates electrical conductivity.
Using inkjet printing allows for the precise application of these materials only where needed, minimizing waste compared to traditional methods like screen printing.
The inks are water-based and dried at lower temperatures, further reducing the environmental impact of the manufacturing process.
In tests with five volunteers, the research team successfully used the e-textiles to monitor heart rate and body temperature at industry-standard levels of accuracy. The fabric also exhibited rapid biodegradation – after four months buried in soil, it had lost nearly half its weight and 98% of its strength.
A life cycle assessment comparing graphene-based e-textiles to conventional electronic materials revealed they have up to 40 times less environmental impact.
Marzia Dulal, the study’s lead author from UWE Bristol, stated, “Our life cycle analysis shows that graphene-based e-textiles have a fraction of the environmental footprint compared to traditional electronics. This makes them a more responsible choice for industries looking to reduce their ecological impact.”
As e-textiles become increasingly integrated into everyday life, developing sustainable, biodegradable materials will play a crucial role in reducing waste and ensuring a cleaner future. With 640 million people worldwide suffering from heart-related diseases, the researchers hope their innovation will enable better preventative healthcare through continuous, non-intrusive monitoring via smart garments.
The findings are published in the journal Energy and Environmental Materials. The research team is now working on developing wearable garments using the SWEET technology for potential use in healthcare applications.
Researchers have developed eco-friendly “e-textiles” that are biodegradable and have a lower environmental impact. The textiles use graphene and conductive polymers, precisely inkjet printed onto biodegradable Tencel fabric. Tests showed the e-textiles could accurately monitor heart rate and temperature and biodegrade rapidly in soil. Life cycle assessment revealed that graphene e-textiles have up to 40x less environmental impact than conventional electronics. The technology has potential applications in healthcare, sports performance, and fashion.
