Researchers develop solar-powered fabric with temperature monitoring to keep you cozy in the winter

Imagine walking your dog in the middle of a blizzard or spending the day on a frigid ski hill and instead of wearing bulky layers, you have a winter coat that heats up autonomously.

The solar-powered fabric , new innovative cloth developed by a research group led by Professor Yuning Li requires no bulky batteries or manual controls, the warmth generated by the fabric comes entirely from solar energy, making it an environmentally friendly, self-sustaining solution for winter wear. Within 10 minutes of exposure to sunlight, the fabric’s temperature is able to rise by 30 degrees Celsius, keeping you cozy on a cold winter day.

Researchers have designed solar-powered smart fabric that not only warms up but also customizes its colour. A significant feature of this smart fabric fiber is its reversible colour-changing capability, which can monitor temperature fluctuations.

Current heating technologies rely on metals or ceramics that are unsuitable for clothing. This new fabric is both durable and stretchy. It can stretch up to 500% and withstand 25 washings, while still maintaining its function and appearance making it perfectly suited for winter apparel.

“The magic behind the temperature-sensitive colour change lies in the combination of nanoparticles embedded in the polymer fibres,” said Li a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering. “The nanoparticles are activated by sunlight, enabling the fabric to absorb heat and convert it into warmth.”

This research, conducted in collaboration with Professor Chaoxia Wang and PhD student Fangqing Ge from the College of Textile Science and Engineering at Jiangnan University, holds promise for many applications for outdoor winter activities. It could even be used to create solar-powered clothing for pets, keeping them comfortable and visible in the winter.

Polydopamine, an expensive biodegradable material was used in the current design of the fabric. The research team is exploring more cost-effective alternatives to polydopamine to bring down the cost to make the technology more accessible. Future developments will focus on scaling the production process and reducing costs without compromising on the fabric’s innovative properties.