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E-Textiles and Sensors

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Wearables".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2021) | Viewed by 15008

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Research Institute for Flexible Materials, School of Textiles and Design, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK
Interests: smart textile materials; technical and performance materials; filtration; nanotextiles; wearable sensors and devices; textile mechanics; design/technology; intelligent manufacturing; robotics and AI
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

This is a highly focused Special Issue dedicated to Electronic Textiles and Sensors, which aims to promote this life-changing discipline by providing a platform of dissemination, networking, discussion and debate. The ability of e-textiles to provide sensing/responding/data transmission/actuation/lighting, in an unobtrusive and comfortable to wear way, cannot be found in any other material. With these unique attributes, they are underpinning the development of new devices which have multifunctionality, low energy, small size and weight, ease of forming and low cost for numerous end-uses, such as in thr medical, sports and fitness, military, fashion, automotive, aerospace, built environment and energy industries. The quest of e-textiles and sensors crosses scientific boundaries, redefines material science, design and engineering and finds new uses, particularly in life quality and in sustaining energy and our environment.

I invite the community to support Sensors (IF 3.031) in this timely initiative by submitting new and ground breaking papers that will constitute to the roadmap of our future research.

Prof. Dr. George K. Stylios
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • textile sensors
  • e-textiles
  • photonics
  • wearables
  • conductive textiles
  • biomimetic
  • textile antenae
  • energy harvesting
  • EMI shielding
  • electrostatics
  • self-regulating
  • multifunctionality
  • electronic nanotextiles

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

30 pages, 9230 KiB  
Article
Encapsulation of Electrically Conductive Apparel Fabrics: Effects on Performance
by Sophie Wilson, Raechel Laing, Eng Wui Tan and Cheryl Wilson
Sensors 2020, 20(15), 4243; https://doi.org/10.3390/s20154243 - 30 Jul 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3853
Abstract
Electrically conductive fabrics are achieved by functionalizing with treatments such as graphene; however, these change conventional fabric properties and the treatments are typically not durable. Encapsulation may provide a solution for this, and the present work aims to address these challenges. Next-to-skin wool [...] Read more.
Electrically conductive fabrics are achieved by functionalizing with treatments such as graphene; however, these change conventional fabric properties and the treatments are typically not durable. Encapsulation may provide a solution for this, and the present work aims to address these challenges. Next-to-skin wool and cotton knit fabrics functionalized using graphene ink were encapsulated with three poly(dimethylsiloxane)-based products. Properties known to be critical in a next-to-skin application were investigated (fabric structure, moisture transfer, electrical conductivity, exposure to transient ambient conditions, wash, abrasion, and storage). Wool and cotton fabrics performed similarly. Electrical conductivity was conferred with the graphene treatment but decreased with encapsulation. Wetting and high humidity/low temperature resulted in an increase in electrical conductivity, while decreases in electrical conductivity were evident with wash, abrasion, and storage. Each encapsulant mitigated effects of exposures but these effects differed slightly. Moisture transfer changed with graphene and encapsulants. As key performance properties of the wool and cotton fabrics following treatment with graphene and an encapsulant differed from their initial state, use as a patch integrated as part of an upper body apparel item would be acceptable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue E-Textiles and Sensors)
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18 pages, 3225 KiB  
Article
Boxer Underwear Incorporating Textile Moisture Sensor to Prevent Nocturnal Enuresis
by Valentin Gaubert, Hayriye Gidik and Vladan Koncar
Sensors 2020, 20(12), 3546; https://doi.org/10.3390/s20123546 - 23 Jun 2020
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5927
Abstract
Around 15% of children still wet their bed after five years old. Although bedwetting alarms have proven to be effective to achieve nighttime dryness, they are cumbersome so children could be reluctant to use them. Therefore, the moisture sensor and wire were made [...] Read more.
Around 15% of children still wet their bed after five years old. Although bedwetting alarms have proven to be effective to achieve nighttime dryness, they are cumbersome so children could be reluctant to use them. Therefore, the moisture sensor and wire were made unobtrusive by seamlessly integrated them into fully textile underwear by using conductive yarns. Consequently, the alarm acceptability should be enhanced by improving children’s comfort. Three conductive textile metallic yarns, made of silver or stainless steel, were considered to fabricate the urine leakage sensor. Silver-plated-nylon yarn, which showed the highest electrical conductivity, outperformed the stainless-steel yarns regarding its ability to detect urine leakage as well as its detection speed. Furthermore, it was proven to withstand multiple urine soakings and the following machine-washings, even at high temperature (60 °C). However, the electrical current, necessary to detect the leakage, tends to corrode the silver. Therefore, the detection circuit was adapted. Eventually, the designed leakage sensor was seamlessly integrated into a child’s trunk underwear, into which a miniaturized alarm can be plugged. The resulting textile underwear aims at replacing the rigid alarm system currently available, hence improving the quality of life of enuretic children and help them achieving nighttime dryness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue E-Textiles and Sensors)
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19 pages, 8767 KiB  
Article
Comparison of E-Textile Techniques and Materials for 3D Gesture Sensor with Boosted Electrode Design
by Josue Ferri, Raúl Llinares Llopis, Gabriel Martinez, José Vicente Lidon Roger and Eduardo Garcia-Breijo
Sensors 2020, 20(8), 2369; https://doi.org/10.3390/s20082369 - 22 Apr 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3221
Abstract
There is an interest in new wearable solutions that can be directly worn on the curved human body or integrated into daily objects. Textiles offer properties that are suitable to be used as holders for electronics or sensors components. Many sensing technologies have [...] Read more.
There is an interest in new wearable solutions that can be directly worn on the curved human body or integrated into daily objects. Textiles offer properties that are suitable to be used as holders for electronics or sensors components. Many sensing technologies have been explored considering textiles substrates in combination with conductive materials in the last years. In this work, a novel solution of a gesture recognition touchless sensor is implemented with satisfactory results. Moreover, three manufacturing techniques have been considered as alternatives: screen-printing with conductive ink, embroidery with conductive thread and thermosealing with conductive fabric. The main critical parameters have been analyzed for each prototype including the sensitivity of the sensor, which is an important and specific parameter of this type of sensor. In addition, user validation has been performed, testing several gestures with different subjects. During the tests carried out, flick gestures obtained detection rates from 79% to 89% on average. Finally, in order to evaluate the stability and strength of the solutions, some tests have been performed to assess environmental variations and washability deteriorations. The obtained results are satisfactory regarding temperature and humidity variations. The washability tests revealed that, except for the screen-printing prototype, the sensors can be washed with minimum degradation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue E-Textiles and Sensors)
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