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MXene Composite and Coaxial Fibers with High Stretchability and Conductivity for Wearable Strain Sensing Textiles
Author(s) -
Seyedin Shayan,
Uzun Simge,
Levitt Ariana,
Anasori Babak,
Dion Genevieve,
Gogotsi Yury,
Razal Joselito M.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201910504
Subject(s) - materials science , gauge factor , composite material , spinning , piezoresistive effect , composite number , conductivity , coaxial , elastomer , kevlar , fiber , nanomaterials , strain gauge , nanotechnology , mechanical engineering , medicine , chemistry , alternative medicine , pathology , fabrication , engineering
The integration of nanomaterials with high conductivity into stretchable polymer fibers can achieve novel functionalities such as sensing physical deformations. With a metallic conductivity that exceeds other solution‐processed nanomaterials, 2D titanium carbide MXene is an attractive material to produce conducting and stretchable fibers. Here, a scalable wet‐spinning technique is used to produce Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene/polyurethane (PU) composite fibers that show both conductivity and high stretchability. The conductivity at a very low percolation threshold of ≈1 wt% is demonstrated, which is lower than the previously reported values for MXene‐based polymer composites. When used as a strain sensor, the MXene/PU composite fibers show a high gauge factor of ≈12900 (≈238 at 50% strain) and a large sensing strain of ≈152%. The cyclic strain sensing performance is further improved by producing fibers with MXene/PU sheath and pure PU core using a coaxial wet‐spinning process. Using a commercial‐scale knitting machine, MXene/PU fibers are knitted into a one‐piece elbow sleeve, which can track various movements of the wearer's elbow. This study establishes fundamental insights into the behavior of MXene in elastomeric composites and presents strategies to achieve MXene‐based fibers and textiles with strain sensing properties suitable for applications in health, sports, and entertainment.