Issue

Vol. 18 (2026)

Strong and Tough MXene-Induced Bacterial Cellulose Macrofibers for AIoT Textile Electronics

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-02046-y
Yi Hao
Key Laboratory of Special Protective Textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Textile Science and Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, People’s Republic of China
Zixuan Zhang
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117583, Singapore
Yajun Chen
Suzhou Institute of Trade & Commerce, Suzhou 215009, People’s Republic of China
Song Wang
State Key Laboratory for Mechanical Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, People’s Republic of China
Yingjia Tong
School of Life Sciences and Health Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, People’s Republic of China
Pengfei Lv
Key Laboratory of Special Protective Textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Textile Science and Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, People’s Republic of China
Qufu Wei
Key Laboratory of Special Protective Textiles, Ministry of Education, College of Textile Science and Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, People’s Republic of China
Chengkuo Lee
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117583, Singapore

Corresponding Author: Chengkuo Lee

elelc@nus.edu.sg

Nano-Micro Letters, Vol. 18 (2026), Article Number: 198

Abstract

Textile electronics with extraordinary sensing capabilities holds significant potential in the Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT). However, little effort is paid to their mutual advantages of robust interfacial interactions, ultra-strong mechanical performance, and stability. Herein, we fabricate homogeneous and multifunctional core–shell macrofibers by integrating bridge-functionalized MXene/PEDOT:PSS conductive ink with aligned bacterial cellulose (BC). These resulting macrofibers feature mechanical properties (tensile strength of 433.2 MPa and the Young’s modulus of 25.9 GPa), exceptional electrical conductivity (10.05 S cm−1) and durable hydrophobicity. Such superior robustness allows for the fabrication of the macrofibers woven into textile-based triboelectric nanogenerator (PKT-TENG) and shows an impressive high-performance of a maximum open-circuit voltage of 272.54 V, short-circuit current of 14.56 μA and power density of 86.29 mW m−2, which successfully powers commercial electronics. As the proof-of-concept illustration, the macrofibers with durable hydrophobicity and high piezoresistive sensitivity are further employed for precepting diverse liquids that can simultaneously monitor their distinctive motion features via real-time resistance variation on the textile-based array. This work is expected to offer new insights into the design of advanced fibers with ultra-strong mechanical capabilities and high conductivity and provide an avenue for the development of textile electronics for high-performance sensing and intelligent manufacturing.


Highlights:
1 PKT-TENG woven with K-MXene/PEDOT:PSS integrated bacterial cellulose (BC) via polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating (PKMPBC) macrofibers were fabricated by bridging K-MXene/PEDOT:PSS ink with aligned BC macrofibers, then dip-coated with PDMS, showing high conductivity (10.05 S cm−1), high mechanical strength (433.8 MPa) and superior Young’s modules (25.9 GPa).
2 PKT-TENG integrated with PKMPBC macrofiebrs shows excellent triboelectric response and stability, delivering 86.29 mW m−2 power density to power an electronic watch and capacitors.
3 Resistance-sensitive PKMPBC macrofibers proved the capability of recognition for diverse liquid with precisely detection and fed back multifactor behaviors.

Keywords

Textile electronics MXene/PEODT:PSS ink Bacterial cellulose macrofiber Triboelectric nanogenerators Liquid recognition
Hao, Yi, Zixuan Zhang, Yajun Chen, Song Wang, Yingjia Tong, Pengfei Lv, Qufu Wei, and Chengkuo Lee. 2026. “Strong and Tough MXene-Induced Bacterial Cellulose Macrofibers for AIoT Textile Electronics”. Nano-Micro Letters 18 (January):198. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-025-02046-y.
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