Sustainable Bi-directional thermoregulation fabric for clothing microclimate

Abstract Maintaining the balance of clothing microclimate is critical for human health management. An ideal smart textile should possess key characteristics such as active thermoregulation, moisture permeability, and stable working performance. However, such a fabric that encompasses all these capab...

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Main Authors: Yanyan Lin, Chengran Qu, Xueqin Li, Chengfeng Ding, Xianfeng Wang, Jianyong Yu, Bin Ding
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62049-6
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author Yanyan Lin
Chengran Qu
Xueqin Li
Chengfeng Ding
Xianfeng Wang
Jianyong Yu
Bin Ding
author_facet Yanyan Lin
Chengran Qu
Xueqin Li
Chengfeng Ding
Xianfeng Wang
Jianyong Yu
Bin Ding
author_sort Yanyan Lin
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Maintaining the balance of clothing microclimate is critical for human health management. An ideal smart textile should possess key characteristics such as active thermoregulation, moisture permeability, and stable working performance. However, such a fabric that encompasses all these capabilities is rarely reported. Herein, we report a sustainable and durable bi-directional thermoregulation fabric (Bi-DTF) by hierarchical structural engineering strategy. This advancement stems from the programmability of the molecular chains, aiming to reduce chain aggregation, improve functional particle compatibility, and build dynamic stress-dissipative networks, thus fully enhancing the robustness of composite fibrous membranes. The optimized Bi-DTF substantially eliminates the heat/cold irritation caused by environmental switching, featuring high energy storage density (4.1 kJ m−2) and stable work performance even after 50 standard washing cycles and 500 rubbing cycles. Compared with commercial textiles, Bi-DTF offers a maximum thermal temperature difference of only 2.3 °C and a cooling temperature difference of 2.6 °C when going through the heating and cooling cycles. Due to its exceptional personal thermoregulation performance and long-term stability, this proposed strategy exhibits considerable potential for the application of healthcare, outdoor sports, and protective clothing.
format Article
id doaj-art-fff2dfdbdbbc43d6a27ad1df24269238
institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-fff2dfdbdbbc43d6a27ad1df242692382025-08-20T04:02:54ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-62049-6Sustainable Bi-directional thermoregulation fabric for clothing microclimateYanyan Lin0Chengran Qu1Xueqin Li2Chengfeng Ding3Xianfeng Wang4Jianyong Yu5Bin Ding6State Key Laboratory of Advanced Fiber Materials, College of Textiles, Donghua UniversityState Key Laboratory of Advanced Fiber Materials, College of Textiles, Donghua UniversityState Key Laboratory of Advanced Fiber Materials, College of Textiles, Donghua UniversityState Key Laboratory of Advanced Fiber Materials, College of Textiles, Donghua UniversityState Key Laboratory of Advanced Fiber Materials, College of Textiles, Donghua UniversityInnovation Center for Textile Science and Technology, Donghua UniversityInnovation Center for Textile Science and Technology, Donghua UniversityAbstract Maintaining the balance of clothing microclimate is critical for human health management. An ideal smart textile should possess key characteristics such as active thermoregulation, moisture permeability, and stable working performance. However, such a fabric that encompasses all these capabilities is rarely reported. Herein, we report a sustainable and durable bi-directional thermoregulation fabric (Bi-DTF) by hierarchical structural engineering strategy. This advancement stems from the programmability of the molecular chains, aiming to reduce chain aggregation, improve functional particle compatibility, and build dynamic stress-dissipative networks, thus fully enhancing the robustness of composite fibrous membranes. The optimized Bi-DTF substantially eliminates the heat/cold irritation caused by environmental switching, featuring high energy storage density (4.1 kJ m−2) and stable work performance even after 50 standard washing cycles and 500 rubbing cycles. Compared with commercial textiles, Bi-DTF offers a maximum thermal temperature difference of only 2.3 °C and a cooling temperature difference of 2.6 °C when going through the heating and cooling cycles. Due to its exceptional personal thermoregulation performance and long-term stability, this proposed strategy exhibits considerable potential for the application of healthcare, outdoor sports, and protective clothing.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62049-6
spellingShingle Yanyan Lin
Chengran Qu
Xueqin Li
Chengfeng Ding
Xianfeng Wang
Jianyong Yu
Bin Ding
Sustainable Bi-directional thermoregulation fabric for clothing microclimate
Nature Communications
title Sustainable Bi-directional thermoregulation fabric for clothing microclimate
title_full Sustainable Bi-directional thermoregulation fabric for clothing microclimate
title_fullStr Sustainable Bi-directional thermoregulation fabric for clothing microclimate
title_full_unstemmed Sustainable Bi-directional thermoregulation fabric for clothing microclimate
title_short Sustainable Bi-directional thermoregulation fabric for clothing microclimate
title_sort sustainable bi directional thermoregulation fabric for clothing microclimate
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62049-6
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