Printable 'smart' clothing cools its wearer and generates electricity
Even though clothing is a fundamental human need, it doesn't seem to be advancing as rapidly as many others. That said, scientists have now created a printable textile that can cool, detect movement, and generate electricity without external systems or multiple layers.
Researchers in the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois have created a zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) nanocomposite textile material that combines passive cooling and biomechanical energy harvesting.
The material uses radiative cooling to reflect 96% of incoming solar radiation, keeping the wearer cool outdoors, plus it can also radiate away the wearer's thermal energy. Furthermore, the material senses motion by detecting the triboelectricity generated as the wearer moves against the textile. This extremely small amount of electricity can serve as a signal for integrated technologies. It can also serve to power small wearables, according to the researchers.
We spend nearly 100% of our lives in clothes....
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