Dynamic Thermoregulatory Textiles Woven from Scalable‐Manufactured Radiative Electrochromic Fibers

Abstract

Textiles can be promising next‐generation wearable thermal management systems by exhibiting tunable infrared emissivity for dual‐mode control of cooling/warming, yet textiles often exhibit constant infrared emission. Herein, a dynamic thermoregulatory textile is woven from scalable‐manufactured radiative electrochromic fibers and is easily driven by a low voltage in a manner that results in a modulated emissivity of Δɛ≈0.35. Through a synergistic combination of the spiral outer electrode and electrochemically tunable carbon nanotube layer, excellent electrochemical controllability of the fibers is achieved over 100‐m length within 5s because of the decreased internal resistance with increasing length. As a result, the thermoregulatory textile suppresses substantial temperature variation and ensures excellent temperature regulation within ≈1.6 °C for simulated skin (much better than that of traditional textiles: ≈2.9 °C) under an ambient temperature fluctuation of 11.2 °C. Finally, wearable infrared camouflage and invisible infrared displays are also demonstrated by weaving or embroidering the radiative electrochromic fibers onto clothing.