Smart multi-responsive aramid aerogel fiber enabled self-powered fabrics

Wearable electronics and systems with self-powered real-time responses to various stimuli, such as mechanical, electrical, thermal and optical signals，are eagerly desired, however still remain great challenges. Herein, smart fibers with multi-response to external stimuli are developed via wet spinning porous aramid aerogel nanofibers while utilized as a three-dimensional hierarchical percolating skeleton for silver nanowires (AgNWs) interwoven MXene conductive network. The coaxial AgNWs/MXene@  aramid aerogel nanofibers with entangled heterostructures effectively avoid “trade-off” effect between high electrical conductivity and mechanical flexibility of smart fibers . Meanwhile, the hierarchical porous structure of aerogel conductive fibers induced strong capillary force and confinement to polyethylene glycol , which has a wide range of phase transition temperature and huge enthalpy to store tremendous thermal energy . After further encapsulated with transparent fluorosilicone resin, the stabilized smart fiber exhibits excellent self-cleaning properties with water and oil repellent. Furthermore, the woven aerogel fabrics coupled with thermoelectric generator realized efficient reversible energy conversion and storage as well as solar-thermal-electrical power generation for all-weather electricity power supply, which could drive the operation of wearable electronics and car models without batteries , providing an efficient strategy for outdoor travel and lunar rover continuous operating. The smart aramid aerogel fibers and fabrics hold great promise for next generation of self-powered wearable systems.