H2020-NMP-22-2015 Grant Agreement No. 685758 (Innovation Action)
Abstract
The vision of 1D-NEON project is to develop fibre-based smart materials along with an integrated technology platform for the manufacturing of new products with multisectorial applications in consumer electronics, energy, healthcare, fitness, smart buildings, sensors and e-skin for soft robotics.
The overall objective of 1D-NEON is to build a modular platform for manufacturing fibre-based industrial products in multiple market sectors. Nanomaterials are assembled into five basic fibre components along with processes for integration into smart products, to impact three pilot applications.
The design and manufacturing approach addresses both technical performance and cost-effectiveness of these multisectorial applications, targeting sustainable development of new high-value, high-performance devices and systems that could be integrated safely into everyday objects for an improved quality of life.
Problem
Within the 1D-NEON project, several functionalised threads are linked to create large-scale electronic applications. Each thread type has its own independent task; by intelligently interconnecting several threads, the functions of a light curtain, a sensor skin and a textile energy supply are realised.
Five functionalised threads form the basis of this development work:
- F-SE: Stretchable thread for energy transmission between the components.
- F-FET: Thread-like field-effect transistor as switching element
- F-LED: Light filaments based on quantum dot technology
- F-Energy: Thread-like energy storage
- F-Sensor: Sensitive filaments
Solution
The four main tasks in the 1D-NEON project build on each other step by step and partly flow into each other. At the beginning, there is the challenge of identifying and testing the
necessary materials for the above-mentioned functional threads and enabling their application on the thread or their production in thread form. Both known materials from the field of metallic conductors and semiconducting materials, but also novel quantum dot materials for the threads are being investigated and used.
Building on the research for the application or production of these functional materials on a laboratory scale, the component technology is then investigated in order to develop usable functional threads and provide a ready-to-use, highly scaled production technology. In the following step, the functional threads that are now available are integrated into textile processes (e.g. weaving and knitting), their processing is investigated and innovative solutions are developed to interconnect the threads electrically in the textile. Finally, the interconnection of the thread materials and their textile surfaces are coordinated in such a way that the desired pilot applications are created.
Parallel to all this development work, simulation models are being developed at the material, component, fabric and application levels in order to be able to make specific predictions. The topics of safety, reliability and standardisation are critically examined and new quality control procedures are developed.
Results and Applications
As a result of the project, it can be concluded that all five functional threads can be produced with a reasonable technological effort, the functional proof has been provided and the processing, interconnection and functional demonstration of the pilot applications has been successfully implemented. All functional threads and one to two alternative solutions per
function were also able to increase their technology readiness level (TRL) from the beginning of the project. This applies to both the laboratory materials at the time and the functional samples being scaled up.
Another very important result is the functional and reliability testing for textile and electronic materials created in the project.
Projectpartners
- The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge
- The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Oxford
- UNINOVA – Instituto de Desenvolvimento de Novas Tecnologias – Associação
- CeNTI – Centro de Nanotecnologia e Materiais Técnicos, Funcionais e Inteligentes – Associação Fundació Eurecat
- TITV – Textilforschungsinstitut Thüringen-Vogtland e. V.
- Silvaco Europe Ltd.
- Saati Spa.
- Relats SA
- Solvay Specialty Polymers Italy Spa.
- Henkel KGaA
- LG Display Germany GmbH
- Bioage SRL
- Signify Netherlands BV
Contact
Kay Ullrich
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
