Digitally-embroidered liquid metal electronic textiles for wearable wireless systems

Electronic textiles should maintain performance against repeated mechanical, thermal and chemical stresses during daily activities. Here, authors demonstrate digital embroidery of robust liquid metal-based fibres with wireless functionalities. Electronic textiles capable of sensing, powering, and communication can be used to non-intrusively monitor human health during daily life. However, achieving these functionalities with clothing is challenging because of limitations in the electronic performance, flexibility and robustness of the underlying materials, which must endure repeated mechanical, thermal and chemical stresses during daily use. Here, we demonstrate electronic textile systems with functionalities in near-field powering and communication created by digital embroidery of liquid metal fibers. Owing to the unique electrical and mechanical properties of the liquid metal fibers, these electronic textiles can conform to body surfaces and establish robust wireless connectivity with nearby wearable or implantable devices, even during strenuous exercise. By transferring optimized electromagnetic patterns onto clothing in this way, we demonstrate a washable electronic shirt that can be wirelessly powered by a smartphone and continuously monitor axillary temperature without interfering with daily activities.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the digital embroidery of robust liquid metal-based fibers to create electronic textiles with wireless functionalities for non-intrusive monitoring of human health during daily activities.