Nanowire Fabrics Could Cut Heating Use

Jan-10-15 Researchers have created wearable, silver nanowire-coated fabrics that can provide enough insulation to eliminate the need for indoor heating.

While metal-coated fabrics, such as Mylar, are known for their insulating qualities, they are not breathable and would not be practical to wear. The silver nanowire-dipped fabric, however, takes advantage of the porous structure of the nanowires. With relatively large spaces of 300 nm, the fabric is porous enough to allow water vapor to escape while still retaining body heat. The fabric can even be connected to a battery to provide Joule heating and raise the temperature of the clothing slightly.

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