Abstract
Electronic textiles (e-textiles) have recently achieved outstanding results, allowing fast and reliable systems directly integrated into fabrics and threads. However, based on the environmental impact of these systems, the improvement of their limited End-of-Life (EoL) strategies is nowadays a major challenge. For this reason, the development of a circular technology for the realization of e-textiles, aiming at waste reduction and support of materials recycling, is highly required. Herein, an innovative and fully recyclable integration of thin-film electronics on a biocompatible polyether ether ketone (PEEK) fabric is presented. Specifically, three different configuration of InGaZnO-based thin-film thermistors are investigated, comparing their capabilities and sustainability. The devices were characterized over a temperature range from 25 °C to 60°C; besides their thermal response, reliable functionality under bending stress and for NO2 gas detection were proven. To demonstrate a circular and yet green approach, the devices were dissolved in water and the textile substrate was reused for a 2nd generation of thin-film sensors, achieving comparable performances with respect to the 1st generation ones. This work represents a first comprehensive analysis of thin-film thermistors integrated with textiles for the realization of breathable, flexible and recyclable e-textiles, with applications for daily routine, ranging from automotive to human health monitoring.