Vafa Fakhri: Multifunctional Bio-based Textiles

This project focuses on the development of sustainable, multifunctional smart textiles using bio-based polymer systems and conductive nanomaterials for wearable electronics and sensing applications. The core of the research is the fabrication of green conductive coatings based on bio-based elastomers and carbonaceous fillers, which are applied onto bio-based textile substrates to create flexible, conformable, and environmentally friendly electronic fabrics.

The project aims to address the growing demand for sensing technologies that combine mechanical flexibility, electrical functionality, sustainability, and user comfort. Unlike conventional e-textiles that often rely on petroleum-based polymers and metallic fillers, this work emphasizes green fabrication strategies through the use of bio-based polymers and metal-particle-free formulations. The developed textile systems are designed to exhibit multiple functionalities simultaneously, including strain and pressure sensing, temperature sensing, photothermal response, thermal management, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding.

A major part of the research involves understanding the relationship between material composition, coating architecture, and functional performance. The project investigates how conductive networks formed by carbon nanotubes or graphene within the biopolymer matrix influence electrical conductivity, sensing sensitivity, mechanical durability, and thermal responsiveness of the coated fabrics and yarns. The coated textiles are characterized using electrical, thermal, mechanical, and morphological analyses to evaluate their performance for wearable applications.

In addition to wearable sensing, the project explores broader applications of multifunctional bio-based textiles in healthcare monitoring, human motion detection, smart clothing, thermal regulation systems, and protective wearable technologies. The research also investigates the scalability and practical integration of these materials into real textile platforms while maintaining comfort, washability, flexibility, and long-term stability.