So-called wearable\nelectronics are currently made by essentially gluing devices to fabrics, which\ncan mean they are too rigid and susceptible to malfunctioning. But the new\nresearch \u2013 carried out in collaboration with experts from the Universities of\nAveiro and Lisbon in Portugal, and CenTexBel in Belgium \u2013 integrates electronic\ndevices into the fabric of the material opening up a host of potential\napplications in every day clothing and healthcare monitoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At just one atom\nthick, graphene is the thinnest substance capable of conducting electricity. It\nis very flexible and is one of the strongest known materials. The race has been\non for scientists and engineers to adapt graphene for the use in wearable\nelectronic devices in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This new research \u2013\npublished in the scientific journal Flexible Electronics \u2013 used existing\npolypropylene fibres \u2013 typically used in a host of commercial applications in\nthe textile industry \u2013 to attach the new, graphene-based electronic fibres to\ncreate touch-sensor and light-emitting devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The technique means\nthat the fabrics can incorporate truly wearable displays without the need for\nelectrodes, wires of additional materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Saverio\nRusso, co-author and from Exeter University\u2019s Physics department, said: \u201cThe\nincorporation of electronic devices on fabrics is something that scientists\nhave tried to produce for a number of years, and is a truly game-changing\nadvancement for modern technology.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr Ana Neves,\nco-author and also from Exeter\u2019s Engineering department added: \u201cThe key to this\nnew technique is that the textile fibres are flexible, comfortable and light,\nwhile being durable enough to cope with the demands of modern life.\u201d]<\/p>\n\n\n\n