Xiao Tian

Bio: Xiao Tian is an academic researcher from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Materials science & Fabric structure. The author has an hindex of 3, co-authored 9 publications receiving 27 citations.

Chitosan Natural Polymer Material for Improving Antibacterial Properties of Textiles

Abstract: In recent years, the textile industry has been seeking to develop innovative products. It is a good choice to organically combine materials with superior functional characteristics and commercial t...

Facile fabrication of highly conductive, waterproof, and washable e-textiles for wearable applications

Abstract: Electronic textiles (e-textiles), known as a newly-developed innovation combining the textile and electronic technologies, are burgeoning as the next-generation of wearable electronics for lots of promising applications. However, a big concern is the durability of the e-textiles during practical using. Here, we describe a facile method to fabricate mechanically and electrically durable e-textiles by chemical deposition of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on widely used cotton fabric. The interface between AgNPs and fabric was tightly strengthened by the bioinspired polydopamine, and a highly waterproof and anticorrosive surface was further obtained by modifying with a fluorine containing agent of 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfuorodecanethiol (PFDT). In addition to the low sheet resistance of 0.26 ohm/sq and high conductivity of 233.4 S/cm, the e-textiles present outstanding stability to different mechanical deformations including ultrasonication, bending and machine washing. Moreover, thanks to the surface roughness of AgNPs and low surface energy of PFDT, a superhydrophobic surface, with a water contact angle of ca. 152°, was further obtained, endowing the e-textiles excellent anti-corrosion to water, acid/alkaline solution and various liquids (e.g., milk, coffee and tea). Finally, the application of this highly conductive e-textiles in wearable thermal therapy is demonstrated. Together with the facile, all-solution-based, and environmentally friendly fabrication protocol, the e-textiles show great potential of large-scale applications in wearable electronics.

A highly durable textile-based sensor as a human-worn material interface for long-term multiple mechanical deformation sensing

Abstract: A sensor with matchable configuration and features is one of the essential components of flexible and wearable electronic systems. The textile is considered as an ideal platform that can integrate diverse flexible electronic devices for developing textile-based wearable electronic systems. A one-dimensional (1D) flexible sensor in a yarn-type configuration is an ideal device for a textile-based wearable system, which can be easily woven and knitted into textile structures for fabricating fabrics via existing textile technologies. However, the development of such a 1D flexible sensor with fiber/yarn-type configuration, multiple deformation sensing function and excellent sensing performance is still a great challenge. Herein a new yarn-type strain sensor with both 1D configuration and excellent weavability was developed by employing the commonly used elastic polyurethane yarn (PUY) as a substrate coated with a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) conductive layer, allowing the sensor to be incorporated within the textile structure easily and efficiently without interfering with the exceptional properties of the fabric as well as the comfort and aesthetic beauty of the clothing. Moreover, as a unique adhesive and skin-friendly material for packaging the sensing structure, mussel-inspired polydopamine (PDA) was introduced into the sensor system, leading to a great enhancement of the interfacial adhesion between the PUY core and conductive sheath, the stability of the sensing layer and the integrality of the sensor. The resultant yarn sensor exhibits excellent sensing properties, with a large gauge factor (131.8 at 90% strain), very low hysteresis, and especially perfect linearity (a correlation coefficient of 0.999). Of great importance is its superior durability even after longtime stretching–releasing for 30 000 cycles. In addition, the sensor demonstrates a good capability to sense the multiple deformations of tensile- and bending-induced strains. Subsequently, a new sensing textile was developed by integrating the yarn sensor into the fabric structure by using the automatic weaving machine, showing a very good and stable sensing performance even after 10 000 testing cycles.

Advances in High‐Performance Autonomous Energy and Self‐Powered Sensing Textiles with Novel 3D Fabric Structures

Abstract: The seamless integration of emerging triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) technology with traditional wearable textile materials has given birth to the next‐generation smart textiles, i.e., textile TENGs, which will play a vital role in the era of Internet of Things and artificial intelligences. However, low output power and inferior sensing ability have largely limited the development of textile TENGs. Among various approaches to improve the output and sensing performance, such as material modification, structural design, and environmental management, a 3D fabric structural scheme is a facile, efficient, controllable, and scalable strategy to increase the effective contact area for contact electrification of textile TENGs without cumbersome material processing and service area restrictions. Herein, the recent advances of the current reported textile TENGs with 3D fabric structures are comprehensively summarized and systematically analyzed in order to clarify their superiorities over 1D fiber and 2D fabric structures in terms of power output and pressure sensing. The forward‐looking integration abilities of the 3D fabrics are also discussed at the end. It is believed that the overview and analysis of textile TENGs with distinctive 3D fabric structures will contribute to the development and realization of high‐power output micro/nanowearable power sources and high‐quality self‐powered wearable sensors.

Textile terms and definitions

Abstract: The textile Institute was founded in 1910 and granted a Royal Charter in 1925. The aims and objects stated in the Charter include: ‘To constitute an authority for the determination and recognition of technical and trade standards, usages, terms, definitions and the like for the textile industry.’