Dynamic Thermoregulatory Textiles Woven from Scalable-Manufactured Radiative Electrochromic Fibers

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.