Modulation of Electrical and Thermal Properties of Metal Nanowire-Based Heatable Textiles: Evaluation of Substrate Compatibility and Dip-and-Dry Process Applicability

This study developed a method of fabricating heatable textiles using silver (Ag) and copper (Cu) nanowires (NWs) and various textile substrates (knit silk, rayon, silk scarf, poplin and polyester) using a repeated dip-and-dry process. The effects of substrate type, nanowire material, and processing conditions on electrical and thermal performance were systematically investigated. Among the five tested fabrics, poplin—characterized by its plain weave structure and high fabric density—exhibited the lowest sheet resistance and was selected for detailed thermal analysis. Cu nanowires showed rapid degradation due to surface oxidation, resulting in a complete loss of conductivity within 18 seconds of ambient exposure. In contrast, Ag nanowires formed uniform conductive networks with excellent oxidation resistance, enabling stable and reliable Joule heating. The AgNW-coated poplin demonstrated a rapid thermal response, reaching 90% of the target temperature within 12 seconds under 5?V, with less than 0.5% deviation during steady-state operation. The heating behavior remained stable over repeated on/off cycles and during 10,000 minutes of continuous operation, with only minor decreases of 3.5% in temperature and 4.0% in current. Furthermore, consistent heating performance was maintained under mechanical deformation such as twisting and folding. In this study, AgNW-coated poplin demonstrated the most stable Joule heating performance among the tested textile substrates, which is attributed to the intrinsic oxidation resistance of Ag and the plain weave structure of the poplin substrate.