Solid-state polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are promising for high-safety, high-energy-density lithium metal batteries, but their adoption is limited by low room-temperature ionic conductivity and insufficient mechanical robustness. This study reports an improved SPE architecture consisting of a three-dimensional (3D) polyacrylonitrile (PAN)–Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 (LLZTO) fibrous skeleton infused with a polymer electrolyte ionic liquid (PIL), which promotes lithium-salt dissociation, accelerates Li+ transport, and enhances mechanical strength. The resulting SPE achieves an ionic conductivity of up to 0.51 mS cm−1. Li|Li symmetric cells using a 40-µm-thick SPE cycle stably for 2500 h at 0.2 mA cm−2 with a low overpotential of 30 mV. In Li|LiFePO4 (LFP) full cells, the electrolyte enables 86.8
Chronic migraine, a neurological disorder often refractory to conventional medication, necessitates novel therapeutic strategies. Here, bioadaptive acoustoelectric fibers (BAEFs) are developed for ultrasound-driven vagus nerve stimulation, exhibiting high stretchability (830
The rapid development of intelligent wearables poses significant challenges for textile materials requiring high strength, toughness, good formability, and multifunctionality. Electrospinning generates nanofibers of high flexibility, breathability, and specific surface area. High-performance fibrous material is suitable for next-generation wearables. This review examines and summarizes electrospinning and the morphology of nanofibers, as well as the methods for modification. Moreover, the application of integrated nanofiber-based intelligent wearable systems in many areas is discussed. Powered by engineering electrospun nanofibers, intelligent wearables have been used in fields such as health monitoring, intelligent biotherapy, and next-generation intelligent textiles. Wearable monitoring devices can continuously monitor the health status of the human body in real time. Intelligent medical systems can use the monitoring information to achieve targeted drug delivery, reducing dependence on medical devices. Hiding these intelligent devices within textiles is the ultimate goal of wearable devices. Such fabrics combine functionality and comfort, providing a solution for the next-generation intelligent textiles. Finally, current challenges in the field are discussed, and future work is proposed. In short, electrospun nanofiber material can lead wearable technology toward increased integration and intelligence with promising solutions for future healthcare and textile applications.
Fiber-shaped ionic conductors are ideal for bioelectronic interfaces due to their structural and functional similarities to biological tissues. However, achieving high mechanical strength, superior conductivity, and long-term environmental stability within a scalable fiber format remains a formidable challenge. Here, we report a design strategy to fabricate tough, robust, ionic-conductive and stable (TRIS) fibers via continuous UV-assisted spinning of a quaternary deep eutectic solvent. The core lies in the synergistic interplay between a highly dynamic hydrogen-bonding supramolecular network and dynamic carboxyl–zirconium coordination complexes. This molecular architecture enables TRIS fibers to simultaneously realize a high Young’s modulus (approximately 8.7 MPa) and excellent ionic conductivity (approximately 0.896 S/m). Furthermore, the fibers exhibit exceptional environmental stability, maintaining stable performance for over 1 year in ambient conditions. As a demonstration, TRIS fibers function as ionic cables that can transmit high-fidelity signals under strain (approximately 50
Inorganic nanoyarns with high electrical conductivity, tunable redox activity, and outstanding chemical/thermal stability are promising components for high-performance multifunctional fibers. However, integrating inorganic functionality with the softness, durability, and processability required for wearable fiber systems remains a major challenge. Here we present ultrasoft core–shell nanoyarns composed of inorganic nanoribbon cores and polymer shells with exceptional mechanical compliance while maintaining high electrical and chemical performance. The inorganic core provides multifunctionality and structural diversity with single-layer, particle-decorated, and multilayer sandwich architectures. A grounded-core electrospinning strategy is introduced to form porous polymer shells around the inorganic cores, providing mechanical reinforcement, electrical insulation, and diffusion pathways for reactive species within a resilient, flexible framework. The proposed core–shell nanoyarns function as efficient water-splitting electrodes, deliver a high volumetric energy density in fiber-type supercapacitors, and operate as force sensors capable of detecting forces at the tens-of-micronewton level. These results establish the core–shell nanoyarn as a universal and scalable platform for wearable energy and sensing systems.
Wearable electronic skin (E-skin) with high sensitivity and stable response characteristics holds significant promise for human body monitoring. To address the critical bottleneck of stochastic microcrack morphology and poor structural controllability inherent in conventional MXene-based microcrack sensors, we present a skin-inspired, hierarchically structured E-skin in which ordered regulation of MXene microcracks is achieved through a pre-stretching–spray-coating coupling strategy. Benefiting from the synergistic interplay between structural engineering and conductive pathway modulation, the device achieves a sensitivity of 6.17 kPa–1 over a pressure range of 0–60 kPa, along with a cycling stability exceeding 12000 loading–unloading cycles, a rapid response time of 40 ms, and a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 30.64 dB. By combining discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and continuous wavelet transform (CWT) for multi-scale analysis of radial and carotid arterial pulse signals, a dominant frequency of approximately 1.3 Hz (78 bpm) was extracted, validating the device’s high-resolution capability for detecting subtle physiological signals. This MXene-based microcrack E-skin offers a novel technical approach for the controllable fabrication of microcracks and demonstrates considerable potential for applications in wearable medical monitoring.
Structural batteries capable of simultaneously bearing load and storing electrochemical energy represent a transformative paradigm for next-generation electric vehicles and aerospace systems. However, the intrinsically poor ion transport of conventional epoxy-based structural electrolytes hinders the practical implementation of structural batteries. Herein, a sustainable composite solid structural electrolyte is innovatively developed by employing polyethylene oxide as a highly ion-conductive matrix and cellulose acetate as a mechanically reinforcing phase. This uniquely synergistic design delivers a high ionic conductivity of 0.33 mS cm−1 and a high tensile strength of 8.79 MPa, effectively reconciling electrochemical and mechanical functionalities. The thermoplastic structural electrolyte is directly integrated with the carbon fiber (CF)-based electrodes via standard compression molding to fabricate the resulting structural batteries, demonstrating a higher tensile strength of 371.36 MPa with an energy density of 13.69 Wh kg−1, which surpasses that of the conventional CF-reinforced structural batteries. Notably, the cellulose-based thermoplastic architecture enables exceptional recyclability and processability, allowing secondary assembly into customized complex structural automobile/aerospace components without compromising energy storage performance. This forward-looking work presents a novel, viable strategy for designing recyclable structural solid electrolytes compatible with industrial compression molding process, offering a sustainable and scalable pathway for CF-based structural energy storage large-scale applications.
Magnetic soft fibers (MSFs) have emerged as a promising class of stimuli-responsive materials that combine magnetic functionality, mechanical compliance, programmable magnetization, and multifunctional performance within fiber-based architectures. Their ability to enable wireless actuation, adaptive deformation, sensing, and electrical energy generation has attracted growing interest in wearable electronics, biomedical devices, and soft robotic systems. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the fundamental principles, material systems, fabrication methods, magnetization strategies, and emerging applications of MSFs. The review highlights that recent advances in material design, scalable fabrication technologies, and programmable magnetization have enabled MSFs to evolve from simple magnetic composites into multifunctional platforms capable of actuation, sensing, and energy harvesting within a single fiber system. Furthermore, the integration of electrical, optical, and fluidic functionalities has expanded their potential in wearable monitoring, minimally invasive biomedical devices, adaptive soft actuators, and remotely actuated robotic systems. Key challenges associated with material optimization, scalable manufacturing, and long-term reliability are also identified, along with emerging opportunities in intelligent design and adaptive control. By consolidating recent progress, identifying critical challenges, and outlining future research directions, this review provides a roadmap for the development of next-generation multifunctional magnetic soft-fiber technologies.
Electronic textiles (E-textiles) provide remarkable potential for next-generation personalized healthcare. However, the limitations in skin adhesion, underwater stability, and air permeability severely hinder their broader application, especially in dynamic and aquatic environments during sweating, showering, or underwater conditions. Here, we reported a highly skin-adhesive, underwater-stable, and breathable E-textile enabled by a graphene oxide–aqueous polyurethane (GAWPU) intermolecular network integrated with a macroscopic knitting structure. Mechanical testing on porcine skin demonstrates an exceptional shear adhesion strength (665 kPa), outperforming previously reported E-textile self-adhesive materials. Benefiting from its multi-scale architecture design, the knitted E-textile also exhibits high stretchability (> 300
Lignocellulosic plastic composites are widely used in many industries for their excellent mechanical strength and durability owing to the synergistic effect of lignocelluloses and polymers. However, the polymer content severely limits their recyclability and environmental sustainability. Here, a self-adhesive lignocellulosic composite is designed directly from forestry residue Eucommia ulmoides bark (EUB), which is rich in Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG) and lignin. The fabrication consists of a two-step process of in situ epoxidation and self-adhesive technique. In situ epoxidation transformed the intrinsic EUG into an excellent viscoelastic epoxidized EUG (EEUG). The self-adhesive technique relies on hydrogen bonding reinforcement promoted by pressure-assisted densification and thermal-assisted flow of EEUG, and further enhanced by epoxy ring-opening. This process converts the raw materials into a fully natural self-adhesive composite without any additional polymers. The demonstrated composite exhibits enhanced mechanical strength, notable flexibility, high hydrophobicity (contact angle at 104.55°), remarkable water resistance, improved thermal stability, and biodegradability (52.96
Wearable gas sensors are essential for real-time monitoring of personal exposure, yet achieving high sensitivity at room temperature while maintaining mechanical compliance remains a significant challenge. Here, we report a hierarchical graphene nanowall (GNW) nanomesh that integrates material-specific transport characteristics with a three-dimensional (3D) porous architecture for enhanced gas-sensing performance. The GNW nanomesh is realized by directly growing vertically oriented graphene nanowalls on a flexible polymer nanomesh using a low-temperature plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process enabled by a thermally robust parylene-coated polyimide substrate. The resulting 3D-on-3D architecture provides high accessibility of active sites and mechanically compliant pathways suitable for wearable applications. Compared to planar GNWs, the hierarchical nanomesh exhibits a sixfold enhancement in sensitivity and faster response under room-temperature operation. Particle-based simulations suggest that confined geometries within GNWs promote localized molecular trajectories and increased collision events, consistent with the observed performance enhancement. Integration into a wearable smart mask further demonstrates stable real-time detection of NO2 over extended operation. This work highlights that combining intrinsic material transport characteristics with hierarchical nanoarchitectural design offers an effective strategy for advancing wearable gas sensing beyond conventional surface-area-driven approaches.
Electrospinning has emerged as an important platform for manufacturing nanofibrous assemblies with high specific surface area, tunable porosity, and versatile functionalizability, making it highly attractive for advanced fiber-based materials. However, bridging the gap between laboratory-scale studies and industrial-scale production requires not only scalable manufacturing strategies, but also rational structural design of electrospun assemblies. In this review, the fundamental mechanisms of electrospun nanofiber formation are summarized, with particular emphasis on jet dynamics, multi-jet interference, and free-surface jet initiation, which together provide the mechanistic basis for scalable production. The evolution of scalable electrospinning technologies, with a particular focus on spinneret design innovations in both multi-nozzle and free-surface systems, is then critically reviewed. Building on this manufacturing perspective, the structural engineering of electrospun assemblies is further discussed, highlighting the progression from two-dimensional (2D) electrospun nanofibrous membranes to one-dimensional (1D) core-spun yarns and multi-scale fiber composite yarns. Representative applications in functional and smart textiles are then discussed. Finally, the major challenges associated with industrialization, structural stability, and device integration are outlined, together with future opportunities for scalable, multifunctional, and more sustainable electrospun materials.
Ceramic fiber aerogels have emerged as promising candidates for thermal insulation in extreme environments, yet their mechanical toughness and high-temperature stability remain critical bottlenecks. To address this challenge, we propose a multiscale structural engineering strategy integrated with scalable direct three-dimensional (3D) electrospinning technology to fabricate silicon–aluminum ceramic fiber aerogels (SACFAs) with a phase-locked amorphous/crystalline architecture. The entangled network constructed by crimped ribbon-shaped fibers reinforces the fiber junctions and provides ample deformation space. Concurrently, aluminum doping introduces Si–O–Al bonds and forms a phase-locked structure wherein nano-alumina/mullite crystallites are uniformly embedded within the amorphous silica matrix. This unique architecture intrinsically reinforces the fibers through grain boundary pinning, thereby synergistically enhancing both mechanical properties and thermal stability. The SACFAs exhibit a superior combination of tensile performance (a high tensile strength of 0.4772 MPa with a fracture strain of 47.58
Advanced fiber paper-based functional materials (AFPFMs) are manufactured from aramid fibers, polyimide fibers, carbon fibers and inorganic high-performance fibers through wet-laid forming, which have overcome the inherent performance limitations of conventional plant fiber paper. These porous sheet composites serve as strategic core materials for aerospace, rail transit, national defense, and new energy sectors, arousing growing global research interest. Distinct from traditional papermaking, AFPFM manufacturing relies on an integrated technical chain covering fiber modification, slurry tuning, forming regulation, and post-treatment; yet, it confronts a series of fundamental and engineering challenges. This review first elaborates core wet-forming theories, and systematically clarifies intrinsic correlations between fiber morphology manipulation, surface functionalization, slurry rheology and macro-micro paper performances. Four representative AFPFM systems are then discussed to summarize their structure–function design principles and practical application scenarios. Furthermore, a multi-dimensional evaluation framework for fiber slurries and final paper products is established. Critical industrialization barriers are highlighted, including inconsistent batch quality, insufficient precision fabrication and weak translation from laboratory findings to large-scale production. By constructing a full-spectrum analytical system spanning fiber raw materials to advanced functional applications, this review offers a holistic theoretical and technical reference for relevant researchers and industrial practitioners.
Permeability is a critical but often overlooked constraint in next-generation on-skin soft electronics for long-term healthcare monitoring. Poor permeability disrupts cutaneous transpiration and thermoregulation, leading to pathological sequelae including skin allergies, maceration, and inflammation. Nature has evolved diverse porous architectures that provide powerful bioinspired blueprints for engineering permeable electronic systems. Building on this, recent breakthroughs in materials science, structural design and multimodal functional integration have facilitated the development of permeable electronics that maintain skin homeostasis while delivering sophisticated healthcare monitoring. This review systematically evaluates the latest advancements in permeable soft electronics for advanced healthcare monitoring, with a focus on their transdisciplinary design principles and clinical relevance. First, we highlight the importance of skin permeability from the perspective of its physiological mechanisms and introduce permeable soft electronics inspired by natural porous architectures. Based on these characteristics, we discuss the recent progress across the nanoscale, microscale, mesoscale, and macroscale. Finally, we explore the remaining challenges and future directions for permeable electronic systems in advanced healthcare monitoring, focusing on multimodal sensing units, data processing units, and supplementary support units in the era of the Internet of Things.
Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a major cause of low back pain, and injectable hydrogels offer a promising minimally invasive treatment. However, current hydrogels rely on exogenous triggers or have unstable shear-thinning properties, limiting their therapeutic use. We developed a catalytically triggered piezoelectric injectable hydrogel loaded with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) for synergistic IDD regeneration. This system uses a gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and diacrylate-functionalized Pluronic F-127 (PF127-DA) composite that rapidly crosslinks via a Fenton-like redox reaction between ferrous gluconate and ammonium persulfate, eliminating the need for external triggers. The hydrogel contains poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) piezoelectric fibers and BMSCs. Under ultrasound stimulation, PLLA fibers generate piezoelectric microcurrents that stimulate BMSCs, significantly increasing transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) secretion. This promotes BMSCs differentiation into nucleus pulposus-like cells and recruits endogenous nucleus pulposus cells, enhancing matrix synthesis. This platform integrates injectable delivery, in situ piezoelectric stimulation, and biological factor regulation, providing a novel and effective strategy for disc regeneration. An injectable piezoelectric hydrogel laden with BMSCs and PLLA short fibers was developed, in which ultrasound-activated piezoelectric currents stimulate TGF-β secretion to direct BMSCs toward nucleus pulposus-like differentiation and enhance matrix synthesis. This integrated approach for IDD treatment thus combines minimally invasive delivery, spatiotemporally precise stimulation and in situ regenerative efficacy.
The engineering of durable small-diameter vascular grafts remains constrained by the challenge of simultaneously achieving mechanical robustness, controlled degradation, and instructive scaffold architecture. Here, we report a programmable dual-crosslinked metallo-elastomer platform, poly(1,3-propylene itaconate-co-2,2′-bipyridine-5,5′-dicarboxylate-co-succinate-co-sebacate) (M-PBIS), that integrates dynamic metal–ligand coordination with covalent crosslinking to enable orthogonal control over network mechanics, time-dependent viscoelastic behavior, and processability. PBIS polymers were synthesized by modular step-growth polyesterification, allowing independent tuning of backbone composition, bipyridine ligand density for metal coordination, and alkene (C = C) content for covalent crosslinking. This multidimensional design space allowed systematic tuning of tensile elastic modulus (0.06–3.2 MPa), extensibility (53
Tactile sensors based on polymer optical fibers (POFs) possess high sensitivity, superior flexibility, and immunity to electromagnetic interference. Nevertheless, the scalable fabrication of sensor arrays capable of accurately resolving multiple contact points remains a challenge. Here, we propose an architecture combining mechanically tailored heterogeneous POFs with a warp-and-weft braided network to achieve high signal-to-noise ratio force measurement and precise localization. This heterogeneous POF architecture is realized by strategically embedding soft-fiber segments within a poly(methyl methacrylate-b-n-butyl acrylate-b-methyl methacrylate) (MAM) fiber backbone, thereby achieving localized mechanical tunability. The results show that the soft fluorinated ethylene propylene/polydimethylsiloxane (FEP/PDMS) POF segment exhibit a robust, material-dependent response to applied force, whereas the MAM fibers remain mechanically insensitive, serving exclusively as optical transmission lines. To construct the sensing network, multiple POFs featuring strategically integrated soft FEP/PDMS segments are interwoven in a warp-and-weft configuration. This architecture forms an array where the sensing nodes are defined by orthogonal soft-fiber intersections. The resulting network enables precise tactile quantification and localization, achieving a force resolution of 0.013 N. This design transforms continuous MAM optical fibers from passive waveguides into discrete, high-sensitivity perception pixels. This pixelation effectively eliminates signal crosstalk and ghosting artifacts, critical bottlenecks inherent in conventional flexible grid sensors. The tactile sensor presents a compelling pathway for advancing wearable sensing technologies in human–computer interaction, soft robotics, and health monitoring.
Inspired by the efficient signal transmission in neurons, nanofluidic systems have been developed to emulate memristive or gating effects, showing promising prospects for neuromorphic computing and bioabiotic interfaces. However, the existing devices have failed to integrate these two fundamental neuronal properties within a single device; thus, falling short of simulating the complex and integrated signal transmission and processing of biological neural systems. Here, we demonstrate a nanofluidic memristor (DAb-NM) based on the graphene oxide fibers for neuromorphic neurotransmitter signal transmission. The device features confined nanochannel with its dimension matching with that of transmitted neurotransmitters, inducing intense electrostatic repulsion and concentration polarization. The high interfacial energy barrier for dopamine (DA) ion transport induces hysteretic ion transport that exhibits a memory effect of paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), and a gating effect which necessitates charge accumulation to open the channel. By integrating memristive and gating effects within a single device, the nanofluidic device not only realizes Pavlovian learning capabilities but also enables neuromorphic information processing when interfacing with living systems. This study provides a novel strategy for integrating complex neurotransmitter-based neural features, advancing the development of intelligent biohybrid interfaces.
Traditional textile dyeing and printing processes are usually accompanied by severe environmental pollution, high water consumption, and heavy metal discharge, which pose a great threat to ecological sustainability and human health. To address these problems, the development of eco-friendly structural coloration strategies has become an urgent demand in modern textile engineering. Inspired by nature, animals and plants display diverse structural colors to fulfill survival, communication, and reproduction needs. This unique coloration enables tunable and vivid hues without relying on chemical dyes or pigments, which has spurred the rapid development of optical materials featuring structural color in fields such as color display, anti-counterfeiting, and smart sensing. Photonic crystals (PCs), a type of material that produces structural colors through the interaction between microstructure and light, have demonstrated significant potential in the field of textile green coloring. This is attributed to their straightforward preparation process, environmental friendliness, and excellent fading resistance. PC materials provide a brand-new and promising idea for clean coloring of textiles; however, there are few reviews in this field. Distinct from the previous reviews, we present an overview of the advancements in PCs structural color materials and emphasize their recent developments within the textile field. First, the chromogenic mechanism, definition, classification of PCs, and their current representative applications are introduced. Second, the utilization of PCs structural color materials in the textile field is examined, encompassing structural color fibers, yarns, and fabrics. Third, the current challenges faced by structural color fabrics are sorted out and analyzed in a problem-oriented manner, including the colorfastness, preparation efficiency, patterning and functionalization. The challenges and developmental prospects encountered by structural color textiles are comprehensively summarized. We envision that this review will guide the advancement of PC-based structural colors in textiles and inspire interdisciplinary research and practical applications across colloid chemistry, bionics, materials science, optics, and textile engineering.
