title: Healable Cotton-Graphene Nanocomposite Conductor for Wearable Electronics.
abstract: Electrically conductive materials based on cotton have important implications for wearable electronics. We have developed flexible and conductive cotton fabrics (∼10 Ω/sq) by impregnation with graphene and thermoplastic polyurethane-based dispersions. Nanocomposite fabrics display remarkable resilience against weight-pressed severe folding as well as laundry cycles. Folding induced microcracks can be healed easily by hot-pressing, restoring initial electrical conductivity. Impregnated cotton fabric conductors demonstrate better mechanical properties compared to pure cotton and thermoplastic polyurethane maintaining breathability. They also resist environmental aging such as solar irradiation and high humidity.
authors.affiliation: Smart Materials and ‡Materials Characterization Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9468-4009
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cataldi
authors.affiliation: Smart Materials and ‡Materials Characterization Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ceseracciu
authors.affiliation: Smart Materials and ‡Materials Characterization Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Athanassia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Athanassiou
authors.affiliation: Smart Materials and ‡Materials Characterization Facility, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , Via Morego 30, 16163 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilker S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Bayer
keywords: cotton; flexible electronics; graphene; healing material; textile electronics; thermoplastic polyurethane; wearable electronics