Development and Characterization of Smart Textile Based on 1×1 Rib weft Knitted Fabric Coated with Polyaniline/MXene

Hypothesis: With the rapid advancement of technology and growing concerns over health and well-being, smart clothing and wearable textiles have garnered significant attention from researchers. In this context, nanomaterials and conductive polymers are considered key components for the development of intelligent textile systems. Among newly emerging two-dimensional nanomaterials, MXene nanosheets stand out due to their high specific surface area, layered structure, and exceptional electrical conductivity.
Methods: This study aims to develop a smart fabric based on 1×1 rib knitted cotton fabric coated with polyaniline and MXene nanosheets, and to investigate its electrothermal and strain sensing performance. In-situ chemical polymerization of aniline was performed on the cotton-based knitted fabric, followed by MXene coating via a dipping process. The surface morphology, elemental composition, electrical conductivity, and electrothermal behavior of the fabricated samples were systematically analyzed.
Findings: FESEM and EDX analyses confirmed the successful deposition of polyaniline and MXene nanosheets on the fabric surface. Surface resistance decreased significantly from 176 to 51 Ω/sq after MXene coating. Upon applying an electric voltage, the surface temperature of the coated fabrics increased rapidly and returned to ambient conditions once the voltage was removed. The steady-state temperature rose proportionally with the applied voltage, reaching over 130 °C at 25 V for the cotton/PANI/MXene sample. The MXene layer notably enhanced the thermal response of the fabric. Furthermore, the fabrics demonstrated potential as strain sensors, exhibiting a negative resistance response to increasing strain, with a gauge factor of 8.9. The combination of effective Joule heating and reliable strain sensitivity highlights the potential of these smart textiles for applications in personal thermal management and real-time human motion monitoring in wearable electronic systems and healthcare-related technologies.