Advanced Fiber Materials for Wearable Electronics

Abstract

Fiber materials are highly desirable for wearable electronics that are expected to be flexible and stretchable. Compared with rigid and planar electronic devices, fiber-based wearable electronics provide significant advantages in terms of flexibility, stretchability and breathability, and they are considered as the pioneers in the new generation of soft wearables. The convergence of textile science, electronic engineering and nanotechnology has made it feasible to build electronic functions on fibers and maintain them during wear. Over the last few years, fiber-shaped wearable electronics with desired designability and integration features have been intensively explored and developed. As an indispensable part and cornerstone of flexible wearable devices, fibers are of great significance. Herein, the research progress of advanced fiber materials is reviewed, which mainly includes various material preparations, fabrication technologies and representative studies on different wearable applications. Finally, key challenges and future directions of fiber materials and wearable electronics are examined along with an analysis of possible solutions. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]