Brush drawing multifunctional electronic textiles for human-machine interfaces

Electronic textiles are a promising candidate for futuristic multifunctional clothes. However, the fabrication of robust and reproducible printed electrodes with high mechanical durability, high biocompatibility, and stable electrical performance under various mechanical deformations continues to pose a challenge. In this study, a silk fabric with printed carbon nanotube (CNT) patterns is used to produce a smart electronic textile (E-textile) for multifunctional applications. The printed CNT electrodes are used in triboelectric devices, electrically activated heaters, real-time electrophysiological sensors, and tactile sensors. The E-textile can be used as an electrically activated thermal patch to generate heat on cloth for providing warmth to the human skin and for therapy. Owing to the micro hierarchical pores of the fabric, skin contact generates a power density of about 0.7 mW cm−2 via effective contact electrification.