Self-healing SHINE fibre shows promise for robotics and wearables

According to the team from the National University of Singapore (NUS), the flexible, durable, and highly visible SHINE fibre could be applied in fields including robotics, fashion, and wearable technology.

The SHINE fibre (Scalable Hydrogel-clad Ionotronic Nickel-core Electroluminescent fibre) has been developed by an interdisciplinary team led by Associate Professor Benjamin Tee.

“Most digital information today is transmitted largely through light-emissive devices,” said Assoc Prof Tee. “We are very interested in developing sustainable materials that can emit light and explore new form factors, such as fibres, that could extend application scenarios, for example, smart textiles. One way to engineer sustainable light-emitting devices is to make them self-healable, just like biological tissues such as skin.”

The team’s research, conducted in collaboration with the Institute for Health Innovation & Technology (iHealthtech) at NUS is detailed in Nature Communications.

The SHINE fibres are made using a nickel core as a magnetically responsive electrode, a light-emitting zinc sulphide layer, and a transparent hydrogel cladding that doubles as a transparent electrode. The result is a fibre that is functional and also highly durable, retaining its properties after being stored in open air for nearly a year.