Bacterial Spore‐Polyurethane Composite Actuators for Dynamic Expressive Garments

Drawing inspiration from the adaptive qualities of biological systems, smart fabrics that sense and respond to the wearer's environment are being developed. One approach toward this goal involves vents that open and close when a moisture‐responsive material bends a passive base layer of the fabric. Such opening and closing of vents have been demonstrated previously. However, experimental demonstrations of the control of moisture permeation via vents are lacking, and the designs introduced so far compromise fabric integrity and barrier properties due to the presence of large holes in the fabrics. Here we report moisture‐responsive bacterial‐spore polyurethane composites for smart garments that combine the strength and speed of spores with a soft polyurethane elastomer. We demonstrate control of moisture permeability, compatibility with manufacturing methods, tolerance to washing and ironing, and integration with additional layers to enhance structural resilience and barrier properties. We also observed a dramatic change in the look and feel of the fabric upon vent opening that offers approaches to expressive garment design. Our spore‐polyurethane composite actuators facilitate moisture and thermal management and dynamic expression in clothing in a form that can meet aesthetic, tactile, barrier, and durability requirements.