Processing graphene coating technology of textile fibres and fabrics, turning them highly electrically conductive keeping the textile properties. It is a simple method, with solution deposition at room temperature, in which the coating can also add antimicrobial properties.
CONTEXT
Textile electronics offers the prospect of providing new functions to our clothes, such as wearable sensors for monitoring vital signs, sustainable energy systems or smart home interiors. The electrodes currently used do not have compatible features with textile fibers, being opaque, inflexible, fragile and not compatible with the manufacture of textiles. The present invention is intended to replace conventional electrodes facilitating the incorporation of electronic devices in textiles, by combining the conductivity of graphene to a common textile fiber.
The present graphene coating method can be used in common textile substrates, fibers or fabrics of polyethylene, polyamide, and nylon or others. The transfer process, in water and at room temperature, incorporates highly conductive and antimicrobial properties, with the mechanical and elastic properties of textile substrates unchanged, and without altering the color and transparency. The process allows the creation of conductive and antimicrobial textile substrates that can be integrated into traditional textile applications as well as in biomedical applications.
Potential applications for this technology include technical textiles and textile substrates with electronic devices, such as sensors for medical surveillance, camouflaged security devices, luminescent devices, thermoelectric devices, textile batteries, among other applications.
APPLICATIONS
TECHNICAL TEXTILES
BIOMEDICINE
SMART WEARABLES
PORTABLE ENERGY
BENEFITS
ELECTRIC SENSOR
HIGH CONDUCTIVITY: ≈1kΩ/sq
FLEXIBILITY: stable performance up to at least a tensile strength of 2%.
TRANSPARENCY: transmittance reduction of 2.3%.
LOW-COST PROCESS
COMPATIBLE WITH COMMON TEXTILE FIBRES
APPLICABLE TO OTHER SUBSTRATES
ANTIMICROBIAL
IP RIGHTS
European patent filed (WO2018007880 (A1)).
DEVELOPMENT STAGE
TRL 4: Laboratory tests in samples with centimeters of fibers, monofilament, multifilament, fabrics, and textiles.
Preliminary experiments as an electric sensor for some biomedical parameters and as a conductive element in an electric circuit. The process can be scaled up and compatible with existing textile technology. The process can also be applied to other substrates.
KEYWORDS
Electronic textiles
Graphene
Functionalized textiles
Antibacterial textiles
DEVELOPED BY
Researchers from Aveiro Institute of Materials (CICECO), from Universidade de Aveiro, and from INESC-MN.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Licensing agreement.
Technology joint further development.
Testing of new applications.
Adaptation to specific needs.
PARTNERSHIP
Universidade de Aveiro seeks partners within the textile industry, internet of things (IoT) or energy, interested in licensing the technology and/or collaborate with the university to develop new technologies within this area.
Technology #CI15029
The University of Aveiro is a young and innovative university, which fosters entrepreneurship and technology and knowledge transfer, with expertise in a wide range of knowledge areas namely IT, Life Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Health, Environmental Sciences), Nanotechnology and Materials Science, Mechanics, Physics, Mathematics, Building, Design and Management. uacoopera is the Technology Transfer Office of University of Aveiro. This office engages in value adding activities such as start-up and spin-off creation, support to university-industry cooperation (sponsored research and consultancy services), IP protection and prosecution, licensing, marketing, among others. It covers four main interrelated functional areas – Intellectual Property Management, Licensing, Entrepreneurship, and Industry Liaison.
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