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A team of interdisciplinary scientists from the Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering under the College of Design and Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has developed flexible fibers with self-healing, light-emitting and magnetic properties.
Scalable Hydrogel-clad Ionotronic Nickel-core Electroluminescent (SHINE) fiber is bendable, emits highly visible light, and can automatically repair itself after being cut, regaining nearly 100 per cent of its original brightness. In addition, the fiber can be powered wirelessly and manipulated physically using magnetic forces. With multiple useful features incorporated into a single device, the fiber finds potential applications as light-emitting soft robotic fibers and interactive displays. It can also be woven into smart textiles.
“Most digital information today is transmitted largely through light-emissive devices. We are very interested in developing sustainable materials that can emit light and explore new form factors, such as fibers, that could extend application scenarios, for example, smart textiles. One way to engineer sustainable light-emitting devices is to make them self-healable, just like biological tissues such as skin,” said associate professor Benjamin Tee, the lead researcher for this study.
Light-emitting fibers have become an area of growing interest due to their potential to complement existing technologies in multiple domains, including soft robotics, wearable electronics and smart textiles. For instance, providing functionalities like dynamic lighting, interactive displays and optical signaling, all while offering flexibility and adaptability, could improve human-robot interactions by making them more responsive and intuitive.
However, the use of such fibers is often limited by physical fragility and the difficulty of integrating multiple features into one single device without adding complexity or increasing energy demands.
The NUS research team’s SHINE fiber addresses these challenges by combining light emission, self-healing and magnetic actuation in a single, scalable device. In contrast to existing light-emitting fibers on the market, which cannot self-repair after damage or be physically manipulated, the SHINE fiber offers a more efficient, durable and versatile alternative.
The fiber is based on a coaxial design combining a nickel core for magnetic responsiveness, a zinc sulfide-based electroluminescent layer for light emission and a hydrogel electrode for transparency. Using a scalable ion-induced gelation process, the team fabricated fibers up to 5.5 meters long that retained functionality even after nearly a year of open-air storage.
The fiber’s hydrogel layer self-heals through chemical bond reformation under ambient conditions, while the nickel core and electroluminescent layer restore structural and functional integrity through heat-induced dipole interactions at 50 degrees Celsius.
“More importantly, the recovery process restores over 98 percent of the fiber’s original brightness, ensuring it can endure mechanical stresses post-repair,” added Tee. “This capability supports the reuse of damaged and subsequently self-repaired fibers, making the invention much more sustainable in the long term.”
The fiber also features magnetic actuation enabled by its nickel core. This property allows the fiber to be manipulated with external magnets. “This is an interesting property as it enables applications like light-emitting soft robotic fibers capable of maneuvering tight spaces, performing complicated motions and signaling optically in real-time,” said Dr Fu Xuemei, the first author of the paper. The fiber can be knitted or woven into smart textiles that emit light and easily self-heal after being cut, adding an element of durability and functionality to wearable technology.
The team’s research, conducted in collaboration with the Institute for Health Innovation & Technology (iHealthtech) at NUS, was published in Nature Communications on December 3, 2024.