As technology continues to advance at lightning speeds, researchers at Hong Kong Polytechnic University have developed an all-inorganic flexible fabric capable of detecting X-rays in the same capacity as traditional rigid detectors.
Specifically, these scientists have developed X-Wear, which produces X-ray output 10 times higher than existing flexible, polymer-based scintillators, preserving the high conversion efficiency of rigid detectors while gaining flexibility, according to a report published by Tech Xplore on July 1.
Flexible fabric meets X-ray capabilities
As it happens, this breakthrough uses sol-gel electrospinning, a technique that transforms brittle inorganic scintillators into fine, flexible fibers woven into a ‘metafabric,’ opening a host of opportunities for wearable health monitors, advanced diagnostics, and portable radiation detection.
Indeed, commenting on the groundbreaking achievement by her team, the study’s lead author Li Xu explained that it “offers a previously undefined paradigm for a scintillator system design strategy that maintains the high performance of inorganic scintillators while adding the functionality of being conformally flexible and wearable as fabrics.”
Moreover, X-Wear is lightweight and breathable, allowing integration into clothing for conformal fit and enhanced comfort, and is easy to pair with flexible photodetectors, although further testing is needed to establish skin contact safety and long-term resilience.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Ministry of Health has launched a new X-ray diagnosis tool powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and targeting individuals at high risk for lung disease, utilizing the advances in this technology to screen for deadly lung diseases before they get out of hand.
Elsewhere, clothing-based technological advances are present in Hollywood as well, including on the set of Dune – the movie franchise that pushed actor Timothée Chalamet to stardom – where costume designer Jacqueline West developed costume tech inside the star’s clothes to keep him comfortable in the scorching desert conditions.
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