New research on the two-dimensional (2D) material graphene has allowed researchers to create
smart adaptive clothing which can lower the body temperature of the wearer in hot climates.
A team of scientists from The University of Manchester’s National Graphene Institute
have created a prototype garment to demonstrate dynamic thermal radiation control within a
piece of clothing by utilising the remarkable thermal properties and flexibility of graphene.
The development also opens the door to new applications such as, interactive infrared
displays and secret infrared communication on textiles.
The human body radiates energy in the form of electromagnetic waves in the infrared spectrum
(known as blackbody radiation).
In a hot climate it is desirable to make use the full extent of the infrared radiation
to lower the body temperature which can be achieved by using infrared-transparent textiles.
As for the opposite case, infrared-blocking covers are ideal to minimise the energy loss
from the body.
Emergency blankets are a common example used to deal with treating extreme cases of body
temperature fluctuation.
The collaborative team of scientists demonstrated the dynamic transition between two opposite
states by electrically tuning the infrared emissivity (the ability to radiate energy)
of graphene layers integrated onto textiles.
One-atom thick graphene was first isolated and explored in 2004 at The University of
Manchester.
Its potential uses are vast and research has already led to leaps forward in commercial
products including; batteries, mobile phones, sporting goods and automotive.
The new research published in journal Nano Letters, demonstrates that the smart optical
textile technology can change its thermal visibility.
The technology uses graphene layers to control of thermal radiation from textile surfaces.
Ability to control the thermal radiation is a key necessity for several critical applications
such as temperature management of the body in excessive temperature climates.
Thermal blankets are a common example used for this purpose.
However, maintaining these functionalities as the surroundings heats up or cools down
has been an outstanding challenge.
The successful demonstration of the modulation of optical properties on different forms of
textile can leverage the ubiquitous use of fibrous architectures and enable new technologies
operating in the infrared and other regions of the electromagnetic spectrum for applications
including textile displays, communication, adaptive space suits, and fashion.
This study built on the same group’s previous research using graphene to create thermal
camouflage which was able to fool infrared cameras.
The new research can also be integrated into existing mass-manufacture textile materials
such as cotton.
To demonstrate, the team developed a prototype product within a t-shirt allowing the wearer
to project coded messages invisible to the naked eye but readable by infrared cameras.
The next step for this area of research is to address the need for dynamic thermal management
of earth-orbiting satellites.
Satellites in orbit experience excesses of temperature, when they face the sun and they
freeze in the earth’s shadow.
This new technology could enable dynamic thermal management of satellites by controlling the
thermal radiation and regulate the satellite temperature on demand