Green-engineered MoS2-functionalized nonwoven fabric: washable, biocompatible, and pressure-sensitive smart textile

Smart textiles capable of reliable pressure sensing are essential for emerging wearable and biomedical applications; however, scalable fabrication routes that combine sensing performance, durability, and biological safety remain limited. This research presents a green engineered MoS 2 -functionalized nonwoven fabric that was developed as a flexible piezoresistive pressure sensor using a citric-acid-assisted exfoliation and coating approach. Few-layer MoS 2 nanosheets were uniformly coated on the fibrous substrate, forming a flexible conductive network without compromising fabric flexibility. The structural and surface studies confirm the successful intercalation of MoS 2 with well-preserved layered structures. The fabricated textile shows a stable and repeatable electromechanical response in the applied pressure range of 600–6,000 Pa, wherein resistance decreases monotonically while voltage output increases as load is exerted. The sensor exhibits good repeatability (±0.05 V), low hysteresis (0.07 V), and a stable signal (response and recovery), and sustained electrical function was obtained over multiple washing cycles, implying practical robustness. Furthermore, antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus is demonstrated, and in vitro cytocompatibility tests indicate 79% cell viability at the highest tested concentration. These findings indicate that green engineered MoS 2 -coated nonwoven fabrics represent a promising platform for pressure-responsive smart textiles, enabling their integration into wearable and bio-interfacing applications.