Flexible, stimuli-responsive and self-cleaning phase change fiber for thermal energy storage and smart textiles

Smart textiles have emerged as potential part for wearable devices and protective systems. Integrating phase change materials (PCMs) into stimuli-responsive fibers offers exciting opportunities for smart clothing to realize instant energy conversion/storage and temperature regulation. However, the production of flexible and efficient smart energy storage fiber is still challenging. Here, flexible electro-/photo-driven energy storage polymer fiber with outstanding hydrophobicity and self-cleaning property is fabricated. The smart fiber is prepared by integrating conductive silver nanoflowers and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as well as hydrophobic fluorocarbon resin with a facile and novel wet-spun phase change fiber to gain high flexibility, excellent electrical conductivity, high enthalpy, tunable phase change temperature, extra shape stability and outstanding hydrophobicity. The highest elongation of the smart fiber is more than 500% and the enthalpies of the fibers varies from 98.6 to 124.5 J g−1 according to the adjustable content of phase change materials. The coordination of Ag nanoflowers and PEDOT:PSS enable the fiber outstanding electrical conductivity of 190 S/m2. The high electrical conductivity, excellent photo capture and good heat dissipation enable the fiber high electro-/photo-heat conversion efficiency (70.1% and 89.0%, respectively). The smart energy storage fiber with integrative properties could be woven into fabrics, providing a new option for smart textiles in wearable and protective systems. [Display omitted] •A facile and novel wet spinning method was used to prepare phase change fibers.•Ag nanoflowers and PEDOT:PSS coating enabled the fiber high electrical conductivity.•The fiber exhibited photo-/electro-responses with high energy conversion and storage.•The smart energy storage fiber performed effective energy conversion underwater.