Laser-induced graphenization of textile yarn for wearable electronics application

The present paper deals with the selective laser writing of textile yarns in order to induce a conductive path useful for smart textiles application. The incident power of the laser induces a conversion of an aramid fiber surface into graphene-based conductive material with tunable electrical properties depending on the laser writing parameters. The physical-chemical properties of the resulting smart yarns have been intensively characterized by electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, electrical and mechanical investigations. The results confirm the few-layer graphene fingerprint of the written paths onto the textile yarn with suitable properties for their application into electronic textiles. Indeed, a yarn-shape strain sensor with excellent performance has been developed and characterized to demonstrate the potential application of the proposed technology to the wearable electronic field.

Automated summary

This paper discusses the selective laser writing of textile yarns to create a conductive path for smart textiles, with properties characterized through various testing methods. The results show that laser writing can convert the surface of textile yarns into graphene-based conductive material with suitable properties, allowing for potential applications in electronic textiles. Additionally, a strain sensor with excellent performance has been developed to demonstrate the technology's potential in the wearable electronic field.