Design, fabrication and assembly considerations for electronic systems made of fibre devices

Fibre electronic devices with one-dimensional configurations have attracted increasing interest because they are highly flexible and can be deformed. In particular, they can be woven into breathable and comfortable textiles for wearable applications. Fibre devices with various functionalities, such as energy harvesting and storage, sensing, and display, have thus been extensively explored. However, most fibre devices work individually rather than as systems. This Perspective aims to highlight promising design concepts, assembly strategies and performance improvements for fibre electronic systems. Their real-life applications are then analysed from a multidisciplinary point of view involving materials science, electrical engineering, textile engineering and health monitoring. The remaining challenges are finally summarized to guide future research for both academia and industry. Integrating single-functional fibre devices into multifunctional systems can enable promising wearable applications. This Perspective article summarizes challenges and strategies for the design, fabrication and assembly of fibre electronic systems, highlighting specifications for real applications.

Automated summary

One-dimensional fibre electronic devices are highly flexible and can be woven into breathable and comfortable textiles for wearable applications. However, most fibre devices work individually rather than as systems. This Perspective article highlights promising design concepts, assembly strategies and performance improvements for fibre electronic systems, and analyzes their real-life applications from a multidisciplinary perspective.