MXene Ti₃C₂Tx, EGaIn, and Carbon Nanotube Composites on Polyurethane Substrates for Strain Sensing, Electromagnetic Interference Shielding, and Joule Heating

Abstract

Developing multifunctional electronic fabrics with sensing capabilities, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and Joule heating performance holds great significance for health monitoring and medical protection. However, most fabrics struggle to combine multiple functions and optimize them simultaneously. For example, achieving both high sensitivity and a wide detection range in sensing devices remains a challenge. In this paper, we present a multidimensional composite structure comprising MXene Ti 3 C 2 Tx nano lamellar, self-assembled lotus leaf-like MXene/ EGaIn and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) assembled on the surface of thermoplastic polyurethane to create a multifunctional MXene EGaIn/MXene CNT fabric (MEMC fabric). The multidimensional materials form a stable conductive network under tension. As a strain sensor, the MEMC fabric exhibits a large sensing range (0−360%) and ultra-high sensitivity (GF ∼ 114,700), making it suitable for artificial eardrum research. Additionally, MEMC demonstrates excellent EMI shielding effect (∼73 dB) and maintains good EMI shielding performance under tensile conditions. The fabric also showcases outstanding Joule heating performance (low voltage drive ∼2 V, fast heating time ∼13 s, and high heating stability ∼4000 s). This paper also demonstrates the multifunctional combination of MEMC fabrics, achieving simultaneous sensing, EMI shielding, and Joule heating functions under stretching. This work offers a forward-looking approach for constructing multifunctional composite fabrics, and the resulting MEMC composite materials hold potential applications in portable electronic devices and defense industries.

Scalable and Multifunctional Polyurethane/MXene/Carbon Nanotube-Based Fabric Sensor toward Baby Healthcare

“…In other words, excellent thermal properties at low voltages and excellent RL are important factors for multifunctional smart fabrics. Compared with recent reports, our MCPP fabrics are comparable (Figure S8), holding great promising in smart fabrics. − …”

MXene-Based Chemo-Sensors and Other Sensing Devices

“…On the other hand, one-dimensional nanowires like CNTs [ 46 , 47 ] and AgNWs [ 48 ] can be used to create a conductive network inside or on top of the elastic substrate. Because of the relatively stable conductive channels provided by this construction, resistance changes are less likely to occur due to deformation, yet this comes at a cost of decreased sensitivity [ 49 ]. Contrary to most other two-dimensional materials, such as graphene, MXenes have a large initial metallic conductivity.…”

“…Because of the relatively stable conductive channels provided by this construction, resistance changes are less likely to occur due to deformation, yet this comes at a cost of decreased sensitivity [49]. Contrary to most other two-dimensional materials, such as graphene, MXenes have a large initial metallic conductivity.…”

Advances in multifunctional flexible MXene-based stress sensors

“…Thus, flexible fabric materials with high porosity and wearability turn out to be powerful sensor substrates to satisfy various demands. Meanwhile, some related application research has been widely conducted, [53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63] aiming to explore proper structure and combination with other functional fillers to obtain high-performance tensile sensors. Here, MXenes act as conductive fillers in the design and preparation of fabric stress sensors, which are summarized to suggest their future prospects.…”