<\/u>La nueva generaci\u00f3n de telas inteligentes e impermeables, podr\u00e1 ser fabricada mediante Impresi\u00f3n 3D y en pocos minutos. Este es el futuro imaginado por desarrolladores, para disponer de una nueva tecnolog\u00eda del tipo \u201ce-textil\u201d. Investigadores de la universidad de Melbourne (Australia), han desarrollado un m\u00e9todo eficiente y de costos adecuados, que permite escalar el proceso de producci\u00f3n, con la finalidad de obtener telas capaces de ser embebidas con dispositivos de almacenamiento de energ\u00eda.<\/p>\n
The next generation of waterproof smart fabrics will be laser printed and made in minutes. That’s the future imagined by the researchers behind new e-textile technology.<\/p>\n
Scientists from RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, have developed a cost-efficient and scaleable method for rapidly fabricating textiles that are embedded with energy storage devices.<\/p>\n
In just three minutes, the method can produce a 10x10cm smart textile patch that’s waterproof, stretchable and readily integrated with energy harvesting technologies.<\/p>\n
The technology enables graphene supercapacitors — powerful and long-lasting energy storage devices that are easily combined with solar or other sources of power — to be laser printed directly onto textiles.<\/p>\n
In a proof-of-concept, the researchers connected the supercapacitor with a solar cell, delivering an efficient, washable and self-powering smart fabric that overcomes the key drawbacks of existing e-textile energy storage technologies.<\/p>\n
The growing smart fabrics industry has diverse applications in wearable devices for the consumer, health care and defence sectors — from monitoring vital signs of patients, to tracking the location and health status of soldiers in the field, and monitoring pilots or drivers for fatigue.<\/p>\n
Dr Litty Thekkakara, a researcher in RMIT’s School of Science, said smart textiles with built-in sensing, wireless communication or health monitoring technology called for robust and reliable energy solutions.<\/p>\n
“Current approaches to smart textile energy storage, like stitching batteries into garments or using e-fibres, can be cumbersome and heavy, and can also have capacity issues,” Thekkakara said.<\/p>\n
“These electronic components can also suffer short-circuits and mechanical failure when they come into contact with sweat or with moisture from the environment.<\/p>\n
“Our graphene-based supercapacitor is not only fully washable, it can store the energy needed to power an intelligent garment — and it can be made in minutes at large scale.<\/p>\n
“By solving the energy storage-related challenges of e-textiles, we hope to power the next generation of wearable technology and intelligent clothing.”<\/p>\n
The research analysed the performance of the proof-of-concept smart textile across a range of mechanical, temperature and washability tests and found it remained stable and efficient.<\/p>\n
RMIT Honorary Professor and Distinguished Professor at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Min Gu, said the technology could enable real-time storage of renewable energies for e-textiles.<\/p>\n
“It also opens the possibility for faster roll-to-roll fabrication, with the use of advanced laser printing based on multifocal fabrication and machine learning techniques,” Gu said.<\/p>\n
The researchers have applied for a patent for the new technology, which was developed with support from RMIT Seed Fund and Design Hub project grants.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n