Nature-Inspired Design of Twisted MXene Heating Wires for Robust Wearable Heating Textiles

Abstract

This study investigated a biomimetic co-assembly design strategy inspired by morning glory vines to create a stable wearable platform. MXene exhibits a remarkably high electrical conductivity, which is advantageous in heating applications. However, its susceptibility to oxidation gives it low stability in air, which limits its application potential. Conventional heaters degrade as a result of mechanical stress and environmental factors such as humidity and high temperatures. To address these challenges, a surface-modified MXene fiber that is twisted with a supporting thread is developed, then coated with an insulating polymer. This twisting process is inspired by the ability of a vine to wrap around supports. It enhances the mechanical stability by distributing forces like bending, twisting, and stretching. The resulting MXene heating wire (MXHW) shows an increase in mechanical durability (with elongations of up to 17.5%) before twisting (1%). It remained stable under a 22.5 N load. Furthermore, the MXHW and a woven MXene heating fabric (MXHF) shows stable performances over 48 h under humidity of 99% and temperature of 80 °C. They retained their stability after 12 000 bending cycles. These observations emphasized the potential of the MXHF in wearable technologies to provide a durable solution adaptable to various environments.