Fabricating the Future
: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Development of Nanofunctionalised Electronic Textiles for Enhanced Thermoregulation and the Exploration of Consumer Behaviour Dynamics

  • Ashleigh Naysmith

Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis

Abstract

Thermoregulation is fundamental for survival, and thermal comfort (TC) is pivotal for performance, productivity, and health. Current provisions for TC are either insufficient or energy-intensive; a new approach is required. Thermoregulating e-textiles (TECs) can contribute a solution but are currently marred by inflexibility and discomfort, unsatisfactory electrical performance, or expensive construction methods. Furthermore, the social acceptability and consumer perspectives of e-textile clothing, particularly TECs, are critical to the positive impact of TECs but are poorly understood.This research focuses jointly on developing TECs using nanofunctionalisation and exploring consumer perspectives of TECs and e-textiles more broadly. The PhD contributes to the growing body of research in thermoregulatory e-textiles. The work presents a multifaceted original contribution to knowledge through material design that is both user-centric and environmentally considered. The primary materials within the studies, 2D titanium carbide (MXene), silver nanoparticles (AgNP), and polypyrrole (Ppy), were selected due to their high conductivity, tuneable thermoregulating properties, biocompatibility, and environmental benignity. Using design of experiments (DOE) to develop lime peel extract synthesised AgNPs of 40 – 80 nm, it was found that AgNO3 concentration and reaction temperature were statistically significant factors. An AgNP-polypyrrole composite linen e-textile was developed with low electrical resistance (9.56 x 101 ), Joule heating performance of 120°C at 10 V input, temperature sensing behaviour (TCR = - 4.6 x 10-3) and strain sensing behaviour (gauge factor = - 7.0 x 10-2). The technical advancements presented within this PhD include being amongst the first to study MXene, AgNP and polypyrrole (MAP) nanocomposites and their application in e-textiles, demonstrating the first MAP based Joule heating e-textile delivering 160°C at 1.5 V input. This process collated multivarious insights into the effective development of MAP-based e-textiles. A systematic statistical approach was taken to understand how plasma pre-treatment affects the electrical resistance of MXene-coated fabrics, revealing parameters to optimise the electrical resistance of several common fabrics. For example, significant reductions in electrical resistance were found when Nylon was treated with Air (99.69% decrease), Wool with Hexafluoroethane (99.99% decrease), Polyester with Argon (98.61% decrease), and Linen with Argon (99.08% decrease). By laying the groundwork for user-centred e-textile development, this study is the first to incorporate an in-depth mixed-method approach exploring the consumer perspectives on e-textiles and TECs, revealing the social acceptability, purchase intention, and challenges to future adoption. The research found that current consumer acceptance of e-textiles was cautiously positive, with only a small majority demonstrating a positive purchase intention (PI). Those with negative PI perceived e-textiles as a ‘passing gimmick’ and did not perceive e-textiles as useful. Aesthetics and expressive factors were shown to affect social acceptance. Consumer attitude towards technology was a strong predictor of their e-textile PI (p-value =
Date of Award9 Dec 2024
Original languageEnglish
SupervisorAndrew Hewitt (Main Supervisor), Naeem Mian (Co-Supervisor) & Parikshit Goswami (Co-Supervisor)

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