Graphene-Enhanced Conductive Chemical Fiber Fabric for Smart Wearable Applications

Seoul, South Korea - April 2025: South Korean researchers from Seoul National University have developed a graphene-enhanced conductive chemical fiber fabric that offers high electrical conductivity, flexibility, and washability, opening new possibilities for smart wearable devices. The fabric integrates graphene nanosheets into polyester and nylon fibers through a scalable in-situ polymerization process, overcoming the limitations of traditional conductive fabrics such as poor durability and rigidity.

Graphene-Enhanced Conductive Chemical Fiber Fabric for Smart Wearable Applications

Conductive fabrics are essential components of smart wearables, enabling functions such as physiological signal monitoring, temperature regulation, and wireless communication. However, existing conductive fabrics often use metal wires or coatings, which are prone to cracking, peeling, and loss of conductivity after washing. The graphene-enhanced fabric addresses these issues by uniformly dispersing graphene nanosheets throughout the fiber structure, creating a stable conductive network.

Testing results show that the fabric has a surface resistance of 10-100 ohms per square, maintaining over 95% of its conductivity after 50 wash cycles at 40°C. It also exhibits excellent flexibility, withstanding 10,000 bending cycles without significant change in conductivity. The fabric is lightweight and breathable, making it comfortable for prolonged wear. Potential applications include smart fitness clothing, medical monitoring garments, and military wearables with integrated communication and sensing capabilities.

The research team has partnered with a leading South Korean textile manufacturer to scale up production of the graphene-enhanced fabric. The technology is expected to accelerate the commercialization of next-generation smart wearables, meeting the growing demand for functional and comfortable electronic textiles.