The working mechanism of the new smart fiber and the display of hand-touch luminescence control. （PHOTO: Donghua University）

By Tang Zhexiao

Researchers from Donghua University in Shanghai developed a new type of luminous smart fiber that can emit light and generate electricity without being plugged in.

The research group accidentally discovered that fibers emit light in a radio field in an experiment. Based on this, they developed a new type of smart fiber with a "non von Neumann architecture," integrating functions including wireless energy collection, information perception and transmission into a single fiber.

Textiles with such fiber can emit light with just a touch. Researchers also achieved human-computer interaction functions such as luminous display and wireless command transmission without chips and batteries.

The new fiber offers comfort and stability as well. Compared with the traditional rigid semiconductor components or flexible thin film devices, electronic textiles made of smart fibers have better air permeability and softness. However, the volume, weight and rigidity of textiles may increase as the current smart fiber uses complex multi-module integration, according to the researchers.

The study, published in the journal Science on April 5, said the smart fiber is expected to change the way people interact with the environment and between people.

The research group said the next stage of their work would be in-depth research on how to make new fibers more effectively collect energy from space and use it to drive more functions including display, deformation and computing.