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Cited by 267Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting MaterialsNanomaterials and Printing TechnologiesWireless Power Transfer Systems

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 53 of the 54 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Digitally-embroidered liquid metal electronic textiles for wearable wireless systems

Open access
Lin, Rongzhou, Kim, Han-Joon, Achavananthadith, Sippanat, Xiong, Ze, Lee, Jason K. W., Kong, Yong Lin, Ho, John S.·2022·Nature Communications
DOI 10.1038/s41467-022-29859-4PMC PMC9023486
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Abstract

Electronic textiles capable of sensing, powering, and communication can be used to non-intrusively monitor human health during daily life. However, achieving these functionalities with clothing is challenging because of limitations in the electronic performance, flexibility and robustness of the underlying materials, which must endure repeated mechanical, thermal and chemical stresses during daily use. Here, we demonstrate electronic textile systems with functionalities in near-field powering and communication created by digital embroidery of liquid metal fibers. Owing to the unique electrical and mechanical properties of the liquid metal fibers, these electronic textiles can conform to body surfaces and establish robust wireless connectivity with nearby wearable or implantable devices, even during strenuous exercise. By transferring optimized electromagnetic patterns onto clothing in this way, we demonstrate a washable electronic shirt that can be wirelessly powered by a smartphone and continuously monitor axillary temperature without interfering with daily activities.

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Figures

Fig. 1 Digital embroidery of liquid metal wireless systems. a Illustration of the digital embroidery process. Liquid metal fibers consist of perfluoroalkoxy alkane tubing infiltrated with galinstan. b Electrical resistance per length and mechanical robustness of the liquid metal fibers compared to conductive materials used for textile (black color) or flexible (red color) electronics. Mechanical robustness is measured by the tested number of bending cycles. Arrows indicate materials have 10% resistance change happened after the maximum tested cycle. c–e Images of embroidered textiles subjected to folding and twisting. f Image of an embroidered spiral inductor wirelessly powering light-emitting devices in the presence of saline droplets. g Embroidered wireless system comprising a relay for long-range near-field communication between a smartphone and textile sensor node.
Fig. 1 Digital embroidery of liquid metal wireless systems. a Illustration of the digital embroidery process. Liquid metal fibers consist of perfluoroalkoxy alkane tubing infiltrated with galinstan. b Electrical resistance per length and mechanical robustness of the liquid metal fibers compared to conductive materials used for textile (black color) or flexible (red color) electronics. Mechanical robustness is measured by the tested number of bending cycles. Arrows indicate materials have 10% resistance change happened after the maximum tested cycle. c–e Images of embroidered textiles subjected to folding and twisting. f Image of an embroidered spiral inductor wirelessly powering light-emitting devices in the presence of saline droplets. g Embroidered wireless system comprising a relay for long-range near-field communication between a smartphone and textile sensor node.CC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 2 Electromagnetic and mechanical characterization. a Images of spiral inductors fabricated by embroidering copper wire (M1), conductive thread encapsulated with polyurethane (M2), and liquid metal fiber (M3). b Measured quality factor Q from embroidered spiral inductors. c Measured scattering parameter ∣S21∣ from embroidered 10-cm length transmission lines. d–f Resistance of the spiral inductors as a function of number of bending cycles (d), during the first and final bending cycle (e), and when compressed by the weight of a hammer or human adult (f). g, h Relative change in resistance when the spiral inductor is immersed in 70 °C 1× PBS (g) and subjected to cycles of machine washing (h). i Water loss through the spiral inductor, textile substrate, and conventional flexible substrates (Ecoflex, PDMS, and polyimide) at 37.5 °C and 20% relative humidity. Error bars show mean ± s.d. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.
Fig. 2 Electromagnetic and mechanical characterization. a Images of spiral inductors fabricated by embroidering copper wire (M1), conductive thread encapsulated with polyurethane (M2), and liquid metal fiber (M3). b Measured quality factor Q from embroidered spiral inductors. c Measured scattering parameter ∣S21∣ from embroidered 10-cm length transmission lines. d–f Resistance of the spiral inductors as a function of number of bending cycles (d), during the first and final bending cycle (e), and when compressed by the weight of a hammer or human adult (f). g, h Relative change in resistance when the spiral inductor is immersed in 70 °C 1× PBS (g) and subjected to cycles of machine washing (h). i Water loss through the spiral inductor, textile substrate, and conventional flexible substrates (Ecoflex, PDMS, and polyimide) at 37.5 °C and 20% relative humidity. Error bars show mean ± s.d. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.CC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 3 Textile wireless power transmitters for implants. a Illustration of a textile transmitter being used to wirelessly power a bioelectronic implant. The cross-section view shows the radius of curvature r, device depth h, and alignment angle θ. The transmitter is connected to a signal generator, which can be integrated in a wearable form factor. b Cross-section view of simulated magnetic field ∣Habs∣ generated by a flat and conformal transmitter placed on arm, neck and waist. Dotted black lines show the transmitter position. c Coupling coefficient k between flat or conformal transmitters and a receiver placed at h = 1 cm, θ = 0°. d Corresponding wireless power transfer efficiency η as a function of θ for r = 2.5 cm based on simulation and experimental measurement. e Long-exposure images of the body phantoms (1× PBS inside acrylic cylinders with r = 2.5, 5 and 10 cm) where position of the receiver is scanned inside. The receiver is configured with a blue light-emitting diode (LED) that activates when sufficient power is transferred. The input power of the liquid metal textile transmitter is 20 dBm. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.
Fig. 3 Textile wireless power transmitters for implants. a Illustration of a textile transmitter being used to wirelessly power a bioelectronic implant. The cross-section view shows the radius of curvature r, device depth h, and alignment angle θ. The transmitter is connected to a signal generator, which can be integrated in a wearable form factor. b Cross-section view of simulated magnetic field ∣Habs∣ generated by a flat and conformal transmitter placed on arm, neck and waist. Dotted black lines show the transmitter position. c Coupling coefficient k between flat or conformal transmitters and a receiver placed at h = 1 cm, θ = 0°. d Corresponding wireless power transfer efficiency η as a function of θ for r = 2.5 cm based on simulation and experimental measurement. e Long-exposure images of the body phantoms (1× PBS inside acrylic cylinders with r = 2.5, 5 and 10 cm) where position of the receiver is scanned inside. The receiver is configured with a blue light-emitting diode (LED) that activates when sufficient power is transferred. The input power of the liquid metal textile transmitter is 20 dBm. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.CC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 4 Conformal textile skin patches. a Images of skin patches fabricated using digital embroidery of liquid metal fibers attached to the neck, waist, and knee. The skin patches are used as wearable transmitters connected with a signal generator for wireless powering of the underneath wearable and implantable devices during daily activities. b Simulated magnetic field ∣Habs∣ on a flat and curved (5-cm radius) body phantom. The cutting plane is set to the center of the skin patch (white dot). c Field profiles along the cutting plane at varying depth h. d Received voltage U of wearable and implantable device, wirelessly powered by the skin patch, during physical activities with speed v increasing from 0, 2.8, 5, 7.2, to 9.2 km h−1, indicated by the shadows. The input power of the skin patch is 20 dBm. e Comparison of U and its relative standard deviation (STDEV) during different activities. Error bars show mean ± s.d. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.
Fig. 4 Conformal textile skin patches. a Images of skin patches fabricated using digital embroidery of liquid metal fibers attached to the neck, waist, and knee. The skin patches are used as wearable transmitters connected with a signal generator for wireless powering of the underneath wearable and implantable devices during daily activities. b Simulated magnetic field ∣Habs∣ on a flat and curved (5-cm radius) body phantom. The cutting plane is set to the center of the skin patch (white dot). c Field profiles along the cutting plane at varying depth h. d Received voltage U of wearable and implantable device, wirelessly powered by the skin patch, during physical activities with speed v increasing from 0, 2.8, 5, 7.2, to 9.2 km h−1, indicated by the shadows. The input power of the skin patch is 20 dBm. e Comparison of U and its relative standard deviation (STDEV) during different activities. Error bars show mean ± s.d. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.CC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 5 Continuous axillary temperature monitoring. a Textile thermal monitoring system comprising a sensor node connected with a smartphone reader via a near-field relay integrated on a shirt. The top row shows images of the system components while the bottom row shows the block diagram. The distance between the reader and sensor node is more than 10 cm apart. b and c Calibration of the measured temperature TNFC with a reference thermometer Tref. ΔT = Tref−TNFC is the temperature difference. The red solid line and dash lines in (c) show mean ± s.d. d Axillary temperature Taxi measured in a shower. The cold shower used ~25 °C water while the hot shower used ~40 °C water. e Map of the GPS position of the subject. f Axillary temperature Taxi streamed by the wireless system over a day. Velocity v of the subject and environment temperature Tenv obtained from the smartphone are plotted for reference. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.
Fig. 5 Continuous axillary temperature monitoring. a Textile thermal monitoring system comprising a sensor node connected with a smartphone reader via a near-field relay integrated on a shirt. The top row shows images of the system components while the bottom row shows the block diagram. The distance between the reader and sensor node is more than 10 cm apart. b and c Calibration of the measured temperature TNFC with a reference thermometer Tref. ΔT = Tref−TNFC is the temperature difference. The red solid line and dash lines in (c) show mean ± s.d. d Axillary temperature Taxi measured in a shower. The cold shower used ~25 °C water while the hot shower used ~40 °C water. e Map of the GPS position of the subject. f Axillary temperature Taxi streamed by the wireless system over a day. Velocity v of the subject and environment temperature Tenv obtained from the smartphone are plotted for reference. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.CC BY · PubMed Central

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Beer, F. P., Johnston, E. R. & Dewolf, J. T. Mechanics of Materials. 3rd edn (McGraw-Hill, 2001).

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Metadata

Authors
Lin, R., Kim, H.-J., Achavananthadith, S., Xiong, Z., Lee, J. K. W., Kong, Y. L., & Ho, J. S.
Affiliations
  • National University of Singapore (SG)
  • Agency for Science, Technology and Research (SG)
  • University of Utah (US)
Corresponding author
Kong, Yong Lin
ORCID
Venue
Nature Communications
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2022-04-21
Volume
13
Issue
1
Pages
2190-2190
ISSN
2041-1723 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/s41467-022-29859-4
PMC
PMC9023486
OpenAlex
W4224229286
Semantic Scholar
f825e617429690910b8b49a79acd1c9b13193597
Cited by
267
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 50 · 2025: 67 · 2024: 71 · 2023: 68 · 2022: 11
FWCI
15.75
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Nature Communications (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • National University of Singapore (submittedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
National Research Foundation Singapore (NRFF2017-07)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Nanomaterials and Printing Technologies
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Wireless Power Transfer Systems
Keywords
smart textiles, digital embroidery, wireless communication, health monitoring, flexible electronics
MeSH terms
Wearable Electronic Devices, Electronics, Humans, Metals, Monitoring, Physiologic, Textiles

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