Ultrastrong MXene composite fibers through static-dynamic densification for wireless electronic textiles

T Tianzhu Zhou J Jia Yan C Can Cao (Innovative Centre for Flexible Devices (iFLEX), Max Planck−NTU Joint Laboratory for Artificial Senses, School of Materials Science and Engineering) Q Qiang He W Wulong Li L Long Chen (Department of Chemistry, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter and State Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry) C Chao Wu Y Yuqi Feng D Denvid Lau Q Qunfeng Cheng L Lei Wei (School of Physical Science and Technology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of High-Resolution Electron Microscopy, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices)

Abstract

Abstract Inherent transverse wrinkles and resulting voids between MXene (Ti 3 C 2 T x ) nanosheets hinder the preservation of their intrinsic mechanical and electrical properties in macroscopic fibers. Here, we demonstrate a controllable and continuous method for kilometer-scale fabrication of ultrastrong MXene composite fibers by utilizing static filling with short carbon nanotubes combined with dynamic thermal drawing using polylactic acid to bridge MXene nanosheets through hydrogen bonds. The resulting composite fibers achieve a record tensile strength of ~941.5 MPa and an electrical conductivity of ~3899.0 S cm −1 , with an even higher conductivity of ~12,836.4 S cm −1 for the inner MXene fiber. This static-dynamic densification strategy significantly reduces voids with a low porosity of ~4.2% and enhances the nanosheet orientation factor to ~0.945. The embroidered smart textiles enable long-range, battery-free wireless health monitoring, body-coupled remote drone operation, and assisted communication with sustained mechanical durability. This versatile strategy offers a general pathway to fabricate high-performance functional fibers.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 16, Issue 1
Published December 09, 2025
ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher Nature Portfolio

Journal Info

Nature Communications

Nature Portfolio

ISSN: 2041-1723 Open Access Life Sciences

Authors (11)

T

Tianzhu Zhou

J

Jia Yan

C

Can Cao

Innovative Centre for Flexible Devices (iFLEX), Max Planck−NTU Joint Laboratory for Artificial Senses, School of Materials Science and Engineering

Q

Qiang He

W

Wulong Li

L

Long Chen

Department of Chemistry, Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter and State Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry

C

Chao Wu

Y

Yuqi Feng

D

Denvid Lau

Q

Qunfeng Cheng

L

Lei Wei

School of Physical Science and Technology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of High-Resolution Electron Microscopy, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices