Multifunctional Electronic Fabrics Based on CNTs for Integrated Active Cooling and Pressure Sensing

Flexible wearable pressure sensors are promising for applications such as health monitoring, electronic skin, and human–computer interaction. However, during outdoor use─particularly in hot summer conditions─excessive device temperatures can lead to user discomfort or even device malfunction. To address this issue, we developed an active-cooling electronic fabric (ACEF) by integrating radiative cooling materials into CNT-based sensors via electrospinning. ACEF features a three-layer structure: the cooling layer, composed of cellulose acetate nanofibers fabricated via electrospinning; the sensing layer, formed by combining raw cotton fabric with CNTs (Diameter: 10∼ 20 nm, Length: 5 ∼ 15 μm) using an ultrasonic-assisted impregnation method; and the electrode layer, fabricated by screen-printing a high-concentration CNT slurry in an interdigitated pattern onto the cotton substrate. The resulting ACEF demonstrates outstanding optical properties and pressure sensing capabilities. Owing to the flexibility of the fabric substrate and the multilayer structural design, the ACEF sensor offers excellent wearing comfort and exhibits a high sensitivity of up to 16.23 kPa –1 in the low-pressure range. The CNT-modified cotton fabric sensing layer enables the ACEF to detect subtle pressure changes (with an ultralow detection limit of 3 Pa) and achieve rapid response (46 ms) and recovery (48 ms) times. Notably, the cooling layer produced by electrospinning endows the ACEF with a reflectivity of 93.14% in the solar band and a mid-infrared emissivity of 93.24% in the atmospheric transparent window (8 ∼ 13 μm). This multifunctional design ensures user comfort and device stability in hot outdoor environments, demonstrating ACEF’s strong potential for advanced wearable electronics.