Graphene-coated fabric detects noxious gas

Researchers at Konkuk University develop a washable fabric that can sense toxic gases.

We’ve seen a few examples of wearable materials that indicate the presence of hazardous substances, like these color-changing gloves. Now, a team of researchers at Konkuk University in South Korea have created an extremely sensitive fabric that detects noxious gases.

By coating cotton fibers with a nanoglue, the team were able to wrap textiles in graphene — a single-atom carbon known for its extreme durability and conductivity. The graphene’s conductivity changes in the presence of certain gases, and the team found the fabric to be very sensitive to the nitrogen-based gases present in smoggy air pollution. The commercialization of the fabrics (which the team hope to achieve within three years) can bring clothing that detects hazardous gases to wearers in pollution prone cities.

Could these fabrics find a place in fitness wearables?