Multifunctional Cu/poplar-PLA conductive nonwoven fabric for electromyography (EMG) sensing, pressure sensing, and thermal heating applications

A sustainable nonwoven fabric was developed from natural biodegradable waste poplar seed fibers and PLA fibers using the needle punching technique followed by electroless deposition of copper metal particles. Surface characterization obtained through scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis confirmed the successful integration of copper particles with the poplar-PLA nonwoven. The presence of copper particles significantly improved the mechanical properties of the substrate and endowed it with superior electrical conductivity (∼ 0.6 Ω/cm). The Cu/poplar-PLA fabric exhibited great potential for efficient wearable sensing applications, such as detecting EMG signals induced by the contraction–relaxation of hand muscles and capturing variant pressures (e.g., finger tapping and counterweight pressing) in real-time. In addition, fast heat generation (temperature reached 78.9 °C at 3.5 V within 45 s) with a uniform distribution ensured the viability of the substrate for wearable thermal heating devices. This was further confirmed by heating the Cu/poplar-PLA substrate attached to a hand finger, which resulted in a consistent temperature profile in the selective area of the finger, suggesting its suitability for region-specific temperature management for personalized comfort or therapy. This work offers a novel and facile way to develop sustainable electronic textiles for the next-generation wearable sensing and heating.