Imagine a coat that captures solar energy to keep you cozy on a chilly winter walk, or a shirt that can monitor your heart rate and temperature. Picture clothing athletes can wear to track their performance without the need for bulky battery packs.
A research team led by Dr. Yuning Li, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, has developed a smart fabric with the potential to harvest energy, monitor health and track movement. It works by converting body heat and solar energy into electricity, potentially enabling continuous operation with no need for an external power source.
The fabric can detect temperature changes and a range of other sensors to monitor pressure, chemical composition, and more. One promising application is smart face masks that can track breath temperature and rate and detect chemicals in breath to help identify viruses, lung cancer and other conditions.
“We have developed a fabric material with multifunctional sensing capabilities and self-powering potential,” said Yuning Li, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering. “This innovation brings us closer to practical applications for smart fabrics.”
Unlike current wearable devices that often depend on external power sources or frequent recharging, this breakthrough research has created a novel fabric which is more stable, durable and cost-effective than other fabrics on the market.
Go to Power up your health with self-sustaining electronics for the full story.