Photothermal Silk-based Textiles

To insulate against natural cold condition, the usage of clothing and textiles plays an important role in human existence. It is no doubt that changes for mode to keep warm will bring about huge revolution in human lifestyle. Based on a biofabrication strategy we proposed before, photothermal property was endowed on silk via feeding Bombyx mori silkworms with photothermal nanocomposites (PNCs). Using this photothermal silk, a photothermal plain weave was successfully weaved. The photothermal textile can convert light energy into thermal energy rapidly with laser irradiation. It is believed that this work offers avenue for developing a new generation of clothes with maximal warmth preservation function by means of photothermal effect.