雷射列印技術將可在幾分鐘內生產出電子防水布料
下一代防水智慧型布料將可使用雷射列印在幾分鐘內生產完成。這是新的電子紡織技術背後的研究人員所思考的未來方向。來自澳大利亞墨爾本皇家理工大學的科學家開發出一種經濟高效且可擴展的方法，用於快速製造嵌入有儲能裝置的紡織品。在短短三分鐘內，該方法可以生產出10x10cm具有防水、延展性的智能紡織布料。
該技術使石墨烯等，能夠與太陽能或其他持久的儲能裝置結合，並直接使用雷射印刷到紡織品上。在概念實驗中，研究人員將超級電容器與太陽能電池連接起來，提供高效、可清洗和可自供電的智能結構，並克服了大部分現有電子紡織品儲能技術的缺點。
不斷發展的智能布料產業在消費市場、醫療保健和國防部門的穿戴裝置中具有多種應用：從監測患者的身體反應，到追踪現場士兵的位置和健康狀況，以及監控飛行員或駕駛員的疲勞等等。
RMIT科學學院的研究員Litty Thekkakara博士表示：「內嵌式感應、無線傳輸通訊或健康監測技術的智能紡織品需要強大而可靠的能源解決方案。」，「目前智能紡織能源儲存的方法，如將電池縫合到服裝或使用電子纖維，可能既麻煩又沉重，也可能發生容量不足的問題」RMIT科學學院的研究員Thekkakara說道。並且當這些電子零組件與汗液或環境中的水分接觸時，它們也會短路或是機械故障。
「我們的石墨烯超級電容器不僅可以完全水洗，而且可以儲存為智能服裝供電所需的能量 - 而且它可以在幾分鐘內大量生產。」
「通過解決與電子紡織品相關的儲能相關挑戰，我們希望為下一代可穿戴技術和智能服裝提供更多動力。」
這項研究也分析了這種概念的智能紡織品在一系列機械、溫度和可洗性測試中的性能，仍然保持穩定和高效。
RMIT上海科技大學名譽教授兼傑出教授表示，該技術可以實現電子紡織品提供可再生能源的實時存儲。並通過使用多點製造和機器學習技術的先進雷射光列印技術，可能還可以實現更快的製造。
這項研究人員已經申請了新技術專利，該專利是在RMIT種子基金和設計中心項目撥款的支持下開發。
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Laser printing tech produces waterproof e-textiles in minutes
The next generation of waterproof smart fabrics will be laser printed and made in minutes. That's the future imagined by the researchers behind new e-textile technology.
Scientists from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, have developed a cost-efficient and scaleable method for rapidly fabricating textiles that are embedded with energy storage devices.
In just three minutes, the method can produce a 10x10cm smart textile patch that's waterproof, stretchable and readily integrated with energy harvesting technologies.
The technology enables graphene supercapacitors -- powerful and long-lasting energy storage devices that are easily combined with solar or other sources of power -- to be laser printed directly onto textiles.
In a proof-of-concept, the researchers connected the supercapacitor with a solar cell, delivering an efficient, washable and self-powering smart fabric that overcomes the key drawbacks of existing e-textile energy storage technologies.
The growing smart fabrics industry has diverse applications in wearable devices for the consumer, health care and defence sectors -- from monitoring vital signs of patients, to tracking the location and health status of soldiers in the field, and monitoring pilots or drivers for fatigue.
Dr Litty Thekkakara, a researcher in RMIT's School of Science, said smart textiles with built-in sensing, wireless communication or health monitoring technology called for robust and reliable energy solutions.
"Current approaches to smart textile energy storage, like stitching batteries into garments or using e-fibres, can be cumbersome and heavy, and can also have capacity issues," Thekkakara said.
"These electronic components can also suffer short-circuits and mechanical failure when they come into contact with sweat or with moisture from the environment.
"Our graphene-based supercapacitor is not only fully washable, it can store the energy needed to power an intelligent garment -- and it can be made in minutes at large scale.
"By solving the energy storage-related challenges of e-textiles, we hope to power the next generation of wearable technology and intelligent clothing."
The research analysed the performance of the proof-of-concept smart textile across a range of mechanical, temperature and washability tests and found it remained stable and efficient.
RMIT Honorary Professor and Distinguished Professor at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Min Gu, said the technology could enable real-time storage of renewable energies for e-textiles.
"It also opens the possibility for faster roll-to-roll fabrication, with the use of advanced laser printing based on multifocal fabrication and machine learning techniques," Gu said.
The researchers have applied for a patent for the new technology, which was developed with support from RMIT Seed Fund and Design Hub project grants.
Original Article: Science Daily
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