Textile electroosmotic pumps for active moisture management

Guiding Liquid in Textiles: Electroosmotic Pumps for Targeted Moisture Control

This research explores textile electroosmotic pumps designed for electrically driven liquid transport in environments with restricted liquid and vapor movement, such as rain jackets. It focuses on optimizing material combinations, including the properties of microchannels and the compatibility of conductive textiles, to enhance flow efficiency, durability, and performance. Applications include advanced sweat management solutions.

Textile electroosmotic pumps are advanced systems enabling the directed transport of liquids through the electroosmotic phenomenon under low current action. These systems are particularly relevant for sweat management in environments where ventilation and evaporation are restricted, such as in protective clothing. However, only a few studies focus on their application in textiles, and reproducibility remains a challenge due to variations in materials and experimental setups.

In our lab, we have developed textile electroosmotic pumps by combining fabric electrodes, a polycarbonate membrane with microchannels, and an adhesive web, enabling directed liquid transport. Proof of concept testing, using carbon-nickel and copper-nickel electrode combinations, demonstrated the pump's ability to transport water solutions both against gravity and with gravity at enhanced rates when electrically activated. Flow rates of up to 8.8 ± 0.08 mg min⁻¹ cm⁻² were achieved, matching the range of diverse human sweat rates. However, several key research points need to be addressed, such as:

Polycarbonate Membrane Porosity. Testing different membrane porosities to assess their effect on liquid flow and overall pump efficiency;
Pump Durability and Electrolysis. Investigating strategies to improve durability and minimize energy loss, material degradation, and unwanted gas formation due to electrolysis.
Adhesive Layer Optimization. Optimizing the adhesive web to balance strong binding with maintaining an active surface area for efficient flow.
Moisture Transport Testing Protocols. Standardizing methods for evaluating pump performance under voltage for consistent application results.
Clothing Integration. Developing strategies to integrate pumps into garments like rain jackets for practical applications.