Scientists in Canada have developed a light-emitting clothing made with stretchable, gold-coated fabric which they say could be used to make the ultimate safety garments. Tricia Carmichael, a professor of surface and materials chemistry at the University of Windsor, and her colleagues added a very thin coating of gold to a pantyhose fabric made of 87 per cent nylon and 13 per cent spandex. The gold acts as an electrode and sends power to a light-emitting material made of zinc sulphide, copper and silicone which shines through the semi-transparent, flexible fabric.
And, although gold is expensive, such a small amount is needed – a coating 1,000 times thinner than a human hair – that the scientists say the cost would not prevent production at scale. Carmichael said the new development had big advantages over existing high-visibility gear, which relies on the reflection of streetlights or headlights.
“Self-illuminating clothing will always be visible from every angle and in any lighting condition,” she told New Scientist. “This could be important for safety apparel.”
However, the light-emitting fabric currently requires a large battery pack for power meaning that further development is needed before it is commercially available. Carmichael said that one option might be to harvest energy directly from the movement of the wearer’s body.
“What we’re working on now is how you better integrate that functionality right into the textile, so that it’s not a hard, plastic box that you have to wear,” she said.
It is thought the fabric could be used to make safety gear, worn by first responders and construction workers, as well as light-emitting athletic apparel, fashion, and even wearable advertisements.
“Users want light-emitting displays that are integrated into fabrics so that they are soft, lightweight, stretchable, washable, and wearable—just like ordinary clothing but with light-emitting panels that can illuminate the user or display graphics/information,” explained Carmichael.
Scientists in Canada have developed a light-emitting clothing made with stretchable, gold-coated fabric which they say could be used to make the ultimate safety garments. Tricia Carmichael, a professor of surface and materials chemistry at the University of Windsor, and her colleagues added a very thin coating of gold to a pantyhose fabric made of 87 per cent nylon and 13 per cent spandex. The gold acts as an electrode and sends power to a light-emitting material made of zinc sulphide, copper and silicone which shines through the semi-transparent, flexible fabric.
