Emerging washable textronics for imminent e-waste mitigation: strategies, reliability, and perspectives

Abstract

The desire for close human contact with electronic components for portable sensing, energy harvesting, and healthcare has sparked massive advances in wearable textile electronic (textronic) technology. Hierarchical textile assemblies (yarn/fibers or fabrics) infused with various nanoscale electroactive materials have provided perfect conformability, allowing us to transform our bodies into wearable electrical terminals. However, the short-lifespan of textronic devices under repeated washing is reducing the customer adoption and market reliability of these intelligent systems. Thus, without adequate advancement in washable textronic designs, it will be difficult to mitigate the significant threat of a high volume of e-waste in the coming decades. Consequently, herein, we present a comprehensive review on the current state of the art of washable textronic designs concerning different innovative strategies such as unique textile geometries, encapsulation, adhesion behaviors, self-repairability, and standard washing protocols to overcome the common washing stresses. Furthermore, the potential challenges regarding the current processing strategies are presented, and promising outlooks on how to develop realistic washable textronic systems in the future are envisioned. It is hoped that this review will stimulate interest for researchers to pursue further study to aid in the standardization and development of futuristic long-lasting textronics.