Super Stable Moisture-Responsive Actuator via Covalent Crosslinking for Efficient Personal Thermal Management.

Abstract

Moisture-responsive actuators exhibit significant potential for applications in personal thermal management. However, their cyclic stability, particularly under washing conditions, remains a critical challenge. In this study, moisture-responsive actuators are developed composed of bacterial cellulose chemically crosslinked with citric acid for use in moisture-responsive textiles. Simulation results demonstrate that the covalent cross-linking network effectively stabilizes the microstructure of the material, thereby preserving its moisture-responsive performance after 200 humidity cycles and 100 washing cycles. Compared to previously reported materials, the washing stability has been enhanced by approximately one to two orders of magnitude without compromise in thermal management performance. Relative to conventional textiles, the engineered smart textile extends the thermal comfort zone by 25.4% and achieves an outstanding 186.2% improvement at a wind speed of 12 km h^-1. Furthermore, it reduces skin temperature by approximately 1.96 °C during strenuous physical activity, showcasing superior moisture regulation and heat dissipation capabilities. This research presents a robust methodology for enhancing the durability of functional textiles, thereby promoting their broader application in personal thermal management systems.