Large-scalable fabrication of zirconium carbide-based core-sheath yarn for wearable applications

As advances in science and technology highlight the applications of electronic textiles, their reliance on natural resources becomes apparent. To promote sustainability, yarns with strain-sensing and photothermal conversion functions are needed, utilizing recyclable resources effectively. However, current-sensing yarns with photothermal-conversion functions have low photothermal-conversion capabilities. Herein, we report a simple and feasible strategy for fabricating core-sheath-structured yarns with photothermal and sensing capabilities for photothermal conversion and strain-sensing applications. The spinning speed employed in the friction spinning approach exceeded 600 m/h, paving the way for a new method that combines sensing and photothermal properties. The multi-layer yarn included spandex as the core yarn, carbon nanotube-coated cotton as the middle layer, and a zirconium carbide@polyurethane film as the sheath. The obtained spandex/carbon nanotube @cotton/zirconium carbide@polyurethane yarn had good strain sensing ability, and the yarn temperature could be increased to 103.5 degrees C after 1 min of infrared-light irradiation, being stabilized at 121.7 degrees C after 5 min. The durability tests demonstrated that the sensing and photothermal capabilities of the yarns were maintained well after cyclic performance test, cyclic friction test and cyclic twist test. The obtained core sheath yarn may provide a feasible way for industrial-scale manufacture wearable electronic devices and smart sensing yarn with excellent sensing and photothermal performance.