A multi-mode thermoregulating fabric with integrated passive/active temperature control capabilities

Wearable thermoregulating fabrics with multi-mode temperature control are of great significance in response to extreme cold weather. Herein, a multi-mode thermoregulating thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)/MXene fabric, integrating passive radiation/thermal insulation and active Joule/solar heating, was fabricated via simultaneous electrospinning and electrospraying. The TPU/MXene fabric exhibits passive radiation/thermal insulation performance due to the low infrared emissivity of MXene and the unique porous structure of electrospun membrane, which could prevent human heat loss through radiation and convection. Moreover, the MXene network allows for ideal electrical conductivity (1280 S m⁻¹) and high solar absorption (~93%), thus endowing the TMF with active Joule/solar heating capabilities that can intelligently warm the body in cold environments. In actual tests, the synergistic effect of passive insulation and active heating could improve skin temperature by up to 8.7 oC ~10.9 oC, which is much higher than passive insulation alone (4.0 oC). Additionally, the MXene conductive network provides effective electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding ability for the thermoregulating fabric, which can be readily adjusted from 38 to 105 dB by stacking the fabric. This issue emphasizes the significant potential of multi-mode thermoregulatory fabric featuring adjustable EMI shielding for future wearable technology.