Researchers from the Technical University of Singapore have developed ultrathin semiconductor fibers that can be used to create fabric for smart clothing.

Engineers have managed to create very long, ultrathin semiconductor fibers that can be woven into fabric and used to create electronic clothing. Such things, thanks to the properties of the fabric, are able to detect the entire range of visible light, from ultraviolet to infrared, and reliably transmit signals with a frequency of up to 350 kilohertz. At the same time, semiconductor fibers are 30 times stronger than ordinary ones, and the fabric created from them can withstand 10 washings and almost does not lose its properties.

The researchers presented two clothing prototypes made from very long, ultra-thin semiconductor fibers: a hat and a shirt. There are things that can help visually impaired people cross the street safely: They take light signals from traffic lights and send them to a smartphone. Or they can receive signals and transmit them to headphones; such things can be used in museums and art galleries to get information from the tour guide. Such tissue could function as a sensor that determines heart rate during physical activity.

The new method of creating semiconductor fibers can be applied in production. Semiconductor fibers are compatible with the equipment of the textile industry, so creating smart clothing in mass form is not difficult.