“Thinner than a human hair.” A new innovation for smart fibers used in the fabric of daily clothing

Scientists from China and Singapore have created ultra-thin smart fibers, which are thinner than a human hair, and can be woven into everyday clothing, occupying less than 5% of the total fabric volume.

The innovative smart fiber is based on semiconductors, which could represent a breakthrough in the field of smart clothing and wearable electronics.

The Chinese newspaper South China Morning Post, citing an article in Nature magazine describing the scientists' invention, said the fibers are resistant to water and washing. It is thinner than a human hair and can be woven into everyday clothing, while occupying less than 5% of the total fabric volume. As pointed out by the project's lead researcher Wei Li, users will not feel any different from ordinary clothes when wearing them.

The vest equipped with such fibers will be able to exchange photographs with other users through a wireless communication system based on optical components. A similarly knitted hat will help a visually impaired person cross the road safely by sending signals to his smartphone. A “smart” jacket worn before entering a museum could act as a tour guide, collecting information about exhibits and transmitting it to the user's earpiece. In addition, these fibers can find wide use in the field of health and medicine.

The team of scientists also plans to develop batteries that include smart fibers in the future to supply electricity to display screens and computing elements. A set of these fibers could potentially replace familiar smartphones.

Source: TASS - Publication date: 02.02.2024 - https://r.rtarabic.com/wwfl