Researchers from Waterloo and Jiangnan Universities develop a self-powered smart fabric using body heat and solar energy for monitoring health metrics.
Researchers from Waterloo University in Canada, in collaboration with Jiangnan University, have developed a self-powered smart fabric that converts body heat and solar energy into electricity, eliminating the need for external power sources. The multifunctional fabric can integrate sensors to monitor temperature, stress, and other parameters, and has potential applications in smart face masks tracking breath temperature and rate while detecting chemicals related to health conditions. This innovative material offers a stable, durable, and cost-effective alternative to current wearable devices, and future research will focus on enhancing its performance, integrating it with electronic components, and developing a smartphone app for real-time, non-invasive health monitoring.