Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• • Spinning chemistry enables the synthesis of ultra-stable CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) perovskite luminescent filaments with a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 24.5% and a high stretchability of ~2400%, addressing the stability and flexibility bottlenecks for wearable applications. • • The review cites a self-healing actuatable electroluminescent fiber (Fu et al., Nat Commun, 2024) that demonstrates the potential for multifunctional fibers, though specific metrics are not detailed; this highlights the need for quantitative comparisons in future work. • • Lead-free double perovskites with near-unity photoluminescence quantum yield (approaching 100%) have been developed for flexible anti-counterfeiting fibers and optoelectronic devices (Nie et al., Chem Eng J, 2025), offering a safer alternative to lead-based perovskites. • • Organic polymorphic crystals with multi-stimuli response, including excellent mechanical elasticity and novel two-stage heterotropic photochromism, have been reported (Yao et al., Sci China Mater, 2024), indicating potential for multifunctional luminescent fibers with tunable properties.
Abstract
Fluorescent fibers and textiles that integrate outstanding optical performance with excellent flexibility hold significant promise for wearable applications and the Internet of Things (IoT). However, the poor stability of post-organized phosphor-based fibers and the high-cost, high-precision technology of electroluminescent fibers hinder their widespread adoption. Perovskite materials and organic semiconductors, owing to their high-efficiency, tunable luminescent properties and solution processability, are deliberately employed to fabricate desired fluorescent fibers and textiles via a spinning chemistry strategy. Recent advances have successfully applied these fibers to sensors, information displays, optical communications, and health monitoring. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent progress in fluorescent fibers and textiles, covering spinning techniques, emitter design, and wearable applications. We highlight key challenges and future research directions in the fine design and synthesis of fluorescent fibers and textiles, as well as their system integration for practical wearable applications. The review emphasizes the potential of spinning chemistry to enable scalable production of robust, high-performance luminescent fibers, addressing stability and cost barriers. We discuss the use of metal halide perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) with high photoluminescence quantum yields (PLQY) and tunable emission, and organic semiconductor emitters with tailored molecular structures, as promising building blocks. The integration of these materials into fibers via spinning chemistry offers a facile, efficient, and controlled strategy, leading to ultra-stable CsPbX3 (X = Cl, Br, I) perovskite filaments with a PLQY of 24.5% and stretchability up to 2400%. The review concludes by outlining future research directions, including the development of lead-free perovskites and self-healing materials, to enhance stability and safety for commercial wearable technologies.
1. Introduction
The pursuit of luminescent fibers and textiles for wearable applications has been hindered by two primary technological bottlenecks: the poor stability of phosphor-based fibers fabricated via post-organization methods, and the high-cost, high-precision manufacturing required for electroluminescent fibers. These limitations restrict scalable production and practical deployment in IoT, sensing, and display technologies. The need for robust, cost-effective, and flexible light-emitting fibers has driven research toward alternative materials and fabrication strategies.
This review addresses these challenges by focusing on spinning chemistry, a technique that enables chemical reactions within confined micro/nanostructures of fibers. This approach allows for the controlled introduction of optoelectronic materials, such as metal halide perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) and organic semiconductors, into fibers, resulting in scalable and high-performance luminescent textiles. By leveraging the high photoluminescence quantum yields and tunable emission of these materials, spinning chemistry offers a practical pathway to overcome stability and cost barriers, paving the way for commercial wearable applications.
Loading authentic research manuscript (Pages 1–5)...
Yuan-Yuan Li, Yi-Yi Ju, Bin Wu, Hang Lu, Bo Cui, Zhi-Hui Yi, Liang-Sheng Liao, Ming-Peng Zhuo (2026). Recent Advances in the Design, Synthesis, and Wearable Applications of Luminescent Fibers and Textiles. SCIENCE CHINA Materials. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-025-4038-8
Research & Educational Purpose Only: The translations, structured abstracts, analytical annotations, and data reports provided by SinoGreenTechare intended exclusively for academic research, internal corporate R&D, and educational benchmarking. They do not constitute formal engineering, chemical safety, legal, or professional advice.
Copyright & Intellectual Property Notice: Original copyright of the underlying source articles and experimental data remains with the respective authors, institutions, and original publishing journals. SinoGreenTech claims intellectual property only over its proprietary translations, analytical syntheses, and AEO structured enhancements in accordance with international fair use and academic citation principles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the primary failure mechanisms of perovskite-based luminescent fibers under mechanical stress, and how does spinning chemistry mitigate them?
Perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) are inherently unstable when exposed to moisture, oxygen, and mechanical deformation, leading to photoluminescence quenching. Spinning chemistry encapsulates PQDs within the fiber matrix during synthesis, providing a protective microenvironment. For instance, CsPbX3 filaments fabricated via spinning chemistry exhibit a high stretchability of ~2400% and maintain a PLQY of 24.5%, indicating enhanced mechanical robustness and environmental stability compared to dip-coated fibers.
How does the cost of spinning chemistry-based luminescent fibers compare to conventional electroluminescent fiber manufacturing?
Electroluminescent fibers require high-precision, complex device architectures and expensive manufacturing processes, limiting scalability. In contrast, spinning chemistry is a solution-based, low-cost process that can be performed at room temperature, enabling roll-to-roll production. The use of solution-processable materials like perovskites and organic semiconductors further reduces material costs. While exact cost figures are not provided in the abstract, the process's simplicity and scalability suggest a significant cost advantage over high-precision electroluminescent technologies.
What are the scalability bottlenecks for producing luminescent fibers via spinning chemistry, and what solutions are proposed?
Scalability bottlenecks include maintaining uniform emitter dispersion and controlling fiber morphology at high throughput. Spinning chemistry addresses these by enabling in-situ synthesis of emitters within the fiber, ensuring homogeneous distribution. The technique is compatible with existing fiber spinning methods, such as wet spinning and electrospinning, which are industrially scalable. The review highlights examples of ultra-stable perovskite filaments with high stretchability, demonstrating the potential for large-scale production.
How do lead-free perovskite alternatives compare in performance to lead-based systems for luminescent fibers?
Lead-free double perovskites have been developed with near-unity photoluminescence quantum yield (approaching 100%), as reported by Nie et al. (Chem Eng J, 2025). This performance is comparable to lead-based perovskites, which typically exhibit PLQYs above 90%. The lead-free materials offer the advantage of reduced toxicity, addressing health and environmental concerns, making them more suitable for wearable applications that require direct skin contact.
What are the key challenges in integrating luminescent fibers into functional wearable systems, and how are they being addressed?
Key challenges include ensuring long-term stability under repeated bending and washing, achieving uniform emission over large areas, and integrating with electronic components for sensing or display. The review discusses the use of self-healing materials and encapsulation strategies to enhance durability. For example, self-healing actuatable electroluminescent fibers have been demonstrated (Fu et al., Nat Commun, 2024), which can recover functionality after damage. Additionally, the development of multifunctional fibers that respond to multiple stimuli, such as humidity and mechanical stress, is being explored to enable advanced wearable applications.
Related Chinese Research & Cross-Citations
Ammonium Vanadate Cathodes in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries: Design Strategies and Research Progress
Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) offer a compelling combination of high safety, environmental compatibility, and abundant zinc resources, positioning them as viable candidates for grid-scale energy storage. Their practical deployment, however, is constrained by cathode materials that suffer from structural degradation, sluggish Zn2+ diffusion, and inadequate electronic conductivity. Ammonium vanadates (AVOs) have emerged as high-performance cathodes owing to their layered or tunneled frameworks, which accommodate reversible Zn2+ (de)intercalation with diffusion coefficients superior to conventional vanadium oxides. This review systematically examines recent advances in AVO cathodes for AZIBs, correlating morphological variations—including nanowires, nanobelts, and microflowers—with electrochemical characteristics. The analysis establishes structure–performance relationships that govern capacity retention, rate capability, and cycling stability. Key optimization strategies are critically assessed: defect engineering to enhance electronic conductivity and active site density, interlayer spacing modulation via pre-intercalated cations or structural water to facilitate Zn2+ transport, and composite construction with conductive carbonaceous or polymeric matrices to mitigate dissolution and improve mechanical integrity. Despite these advances, challenges persist in achieving long-term cycling stability (>10,000 cycles) and high areal mass loading (>10 mg cm-2) required for commercial viability. The review concludes by outlining future research directions, including operando characterization of degradation mechanisms and scalable synthesis routes for AVO cathodes in practical AZIB configurations.
Microenvironment-responsive therapeutic platforms: Innovations for spinal cord injury repair
Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a formidable clinical challenge due to the complex, dynamic lesion microenvironment that impedes axonal regeneration and functional recovery. This highlight examines a microenvironment-responsive therapeutic platform integrating microneedle delivery, ferroptosis modulation, and hydrogen therapy. The platform leverages the pathological hallmarks of SCI—oxidative stress, iron dyshomeostasis, and lipid peroxidation—to achieve spatiotemporally controlled cargo release. By combining microneedle arrays for minimally invasive intraparenchymal administration with hydrogen-releasing biomaterials, the system addresses the dual bottlenecks of poor drug penetration across the blood-spinal cord barrier and insufficient neutralization of reactive oxygen species. Ferroptosis inhibition is achieved through iron chelation and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) stabilization, while hydrogen gas scavenges hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite. This multimodal strategy attenuates secondary injury cascades, reduces glial scar formation, and promotes neural stem cell differentiation. The work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82574518) and the Talent Cultivation Project of Paring Academicians with Young Talents in higher education institutions in Zhejiang. The authors declare no conflict of interest. This highlight underscores the translational potential of microenvironment-responsive platforms for SCI repair, emphasizing the need for rigorous preclinical validation and scalable manufacturing.
Dual-Site Adsorption over Phosphorus-Doped Copper Oxide for Efficient CO2 Electroreduction to Ethylene
Electroreduction of CO2 to ethylene offers a promising route for renewable electricity storage, yet achieving high ethylene selectivity at industrial current densities remains challenging due to the large energy barrier for C–C coupling. Here, we report a “MOF-assisted in situ doping” strategy to introduce the oxophilic nonmetal phosphorus (P) into the copper oxide (CuO) lattice, constructing a localized Cu–P dual-site adsorption configuration for the key *OCCHO intermediate. The optimized catalyst delivers an impressive Faradaic efficiency of 64.6% for ethylene with a partial current density of 646 mA cm-2. Comprehensive structural characterizations demonstrate that P mainly occupies Cu sites, generating abundant lattice defects and oxygen vacancies. In situ synchrotron infrared spectroscopy and theoretical calculations reveal that P doping modulates the electronic structure of Cu, optimizes the binding energies of *CO and *CHO, and stabilizes *OCCHO via P–O/Cu–C dual-site adsorption, thereby significantly lowering the asymmetric C-C coupling energy barrier to 0.74 eV. This work highlights a dual-site microenvironment regulation strategy for CO2-to-ethylene electroreduction.
Hydrophilic Single-Atom Interface Unlocks Low-Potential CO Removal on Pt in PEMFCs
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) fed with reformate hydrogen suffer severe anode poisoning by trace CO, necessitating high CO electrooxidation potentials that degrade performance and durability. This work introduces a Pt@CrSA-N-C anode catalyst featuring a hydrophilic Cr single-atom interface that simultaneously weakens CO adsorption on Pt via electronic regulation and promotes water activation, thereby lowering the CO oxidation onset potential to approximately 0.13 V vs. RHE. The onset potential was determined by two independent methods: the first potential at which the background-corrected current exceeds 0 mA cm-2 during CO oxidation reaction tests in a three-electrode system, and the potential at which the forward scan current exceeds the N2 background current in CO-stripping voltammetry. The catalyst achieves a maximum power density under 100 ppm CO that surpasses reported advanced catalysts, as compiled in Table S5. Structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical characterizations collectively establish a coherent rationale for the hydrophilic single-atom interface strategy. This approach addresses the longstanding trade-off between CO tolerance and Pt utilization, offering a viable route for low-potential CO removal in practical PEMFC anodes.
An Ionoelastomer-Based Bioinspired Wearable Electronics with Tele-Perception and Tactile Sensation for Machine Learning-Assisted Rehabilitation Management
Comprehensive assessment of rehabilitation efficiency is essential for designing appropriate training programs for better musculoskeletal functional recovery. Existing contact-receptor-dependent rehabilitation assessment systems mostly focus on assessing the restoration of muscle function by evaluating grip strength or joint flexion angle; however, parameters reflecting neuromuscular synergistic function are always overlooked. Herein, we develop an ionoelastomer-based soft artificial electroreceptor (SAER) that integrates tele-perception and tactile sensation to track the rehabilitation process, collecting signals related to approaching speed and grip strength sequentially. The SAER uses polyurethane ionoelastomer incorporated with quasi-solid conductive salt as the electric field receptor, and is integrated on a rehabilitation-training ball after assembly to establish an untethered detection device; this enables the remote capture of hand approaching parameter within a 9 cm range, followed by the quantification of grip strength when contacting and grasping. Furthermore, a data-driven assessment system is established by integrating machine learning, which accurately classifies rehabilitation efficiency into six levels; it supports for rehabilitation evaluation and training programs adjustment. Overall, the SAER-based rehabilitation management system establishes a paradigm that synergistically evaluating parameters corresponding to neuromuscular functional restoration and holds strong potential for home-based active rehabilitation for minimizing dependence on frequent clinical supervision.
Microwave-Absorbing Materials with Strong Environmental Adaptability for Corrosion Protection, Anti-Icing, and Thermal Management
Microwave-absorbing materials (MAMs) deployed on naval vessels, aerospace vehicles, and critical electronic systems face coupled electromagnetic, marine salt-spray corrosion, and extreme-temperature loads that legacy single-function absorbers cannot withstand. This review consolidates progress on three environmentally adaptive MAM classes: corrosion-protective, anti-icing, and thermal-management absorbers. The electromagnetic loss and impedance-matching fundamentals are first established, then the synergistic mechanisms, design strategies, and characterization protocols for each class are examined against representative material systems and their measured performance. The analysis identifies a shared design logic—multiscale hierarchical architecture, interfacial polarization engineering, and multifunctional phase integration—while distinguishing the divergent protection mechanisms: barrier and passivation effects for corrosion, surface-energy and latent-heat regulation for anti-icing, and phonon–electron transport decoupling for thermal management. Persistent bottlenecks include the trade-off between impedance matching and protective-layer density, the absence of standardized coupled-field test protocols, and the scarcity of long-term salt-spray and thermal-cycling durability data. Future directions are delineated: intelligent self-adaptive absorbers, multiphysics-coupled simulation frameworks, and environmentally benign multifunctional integration. The review provides a theoretical and technical basis for the design, construction, and engineering scale-up of next-generation high-performance absorbers for aerospace, electronic, and marine equipment.