Smart Textiles: Materials, Fabrication Techniques and Applications
A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science and Engineering".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2026 | Viewed by 19
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
From multifunctional textiles to smart textiles, including electronic textiles (e-textiles), various terms are used to describe materials enhanced with advanced functionalities. The term “smart clothing” refers to garments that offer active functions beyond the traditional properties of clothing. These enhanced properties are achieved through the integration of functional textiles, electronic components, or a combination of both.
Depending on their capabilities, smart textiles can be classified into different categories: (i) passive smart structures, (ii) active smart structures, and (iii) very smart structures. Passive smart structures are capable of sensing stimuli. For example, they can detect environmental changes such as temperature, humidity, or pressure. Active smart structures, in addition to sensing a stimulus, are capable of responding to it in a preprogrammed manner. Very smart structures can sense, react, and adapt to the received stimulus. They have learning capabilities that allow them to adjust to specific situations.
These textiles could revolutionize numerous sectors, from clothing to personal protective equipment, and play a major role in the emergence of new fields such as healthcare. We can identify three main areas of application—healthcare, transportation, and energy—as well as protection and safety.
We are therefore interested in articles that investigate smart textiles. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Smart textile materials;
- Textile-based sensors;
- Artificial intelligence (AI) in textile and clothing science;
- Surface functionalization;
- Nanofibres and nanotechnologies;
- Medical textiles;
- Protective textiles;
- Comfort;
- Energy storage/harvesting;
- Environmental impact and sustainability;
- Standardization and testing methods.
Original work highlighting the latest research and technical developments is encouraged, but review papers are also welcome.
Dr. Hayriye Gidik
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- functional textiles
- e-textiles
- smart materials
- fabrication techniques
- sustainability
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