Free registration at https://forms.office.com/e/7kRPs8bsVp
The CPE Wearable Electronics Workshop: from fundamentals to next-generation textiles and fibres will cover the full spectrum of e-textiles research from basic concepts to emerging trends for functional textiles and fibres. This includes novel materials and manufacturing processes for the development of electronic fibres and integration into e-textiles, as well as emerging research trends and the development of advanced electronic textiles for applications as self-powered systems, sensing technologies, and bioengineering.
Please find the full programme with talk titles and abstracts that will be uploaded here below.
09.30 Refreshments
09.55 Welcome
Talks from:
- 10.00 Prof Shery Huang, University of Cambridge, Imperceptible augmentation of living systems with organic bioelectronic fibres
- 10.30 Prof Nazmul Karim, University of Southampton, Toward smart and sustainable future wearable e-textiles
- 11.00 Dr Sihui Liu, Imperial College London, From fibre functionalisation to integrated e-textile systems
11.15 Coffee break
Talks from:
- 11.30 Dr Bhaskar Dudem (Z-PULSE Ltd) Triboelectric sensors for zero-burden healthcare monitoring
- 12.00 Dr Yunlong Zhao, Imperial College London, User‑centred design of wearable bioelectronics and micro‑power units for multifunctional physiological sensing and sustainable operation
12.30 Close
Abstracts
Prof Shery Huang, University of Cambridge
Imperceptible augmentation of living systems with organic bioelectronic fibres
The functional and sensory augmentation of living structures, such as human skin and plant epidermis, with electronics can be used to create platforms for health management and environmental monitoring. Ideally, such bioelectronic interfaces should not obstruct the inherent sensations and physiological changes of their hosts. The full life cycle of the interfaces should also be designed to minimize their environmental footprint. Here we report imperceptible augmentation of living systems through in situ tethering of organic bioelectronic fibres. Using an orbital spinning technique, substrate-free and open fibre networks—which are based on poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate—can be tethered to biological surfaces, including fingertips, chick embryos and plants. We use customizable fibre networks to create on-skin electrodes that can record electrocardiogram and electromyography signals, skin-gated organic electrochemical transistors and augmented touch and plant interfaces. We also show that the fibres can be used to couple prefabricated microelectronics and electronic textiles, and that the fibres can be repaired, upgraded and recycled.
Prof Nazmul Karim, University of Southampton,
Toward smart and sustainable future wearable e-textiles
Wearable electronic textiles (e-textiles) hold significant promise for transforming personalised healthcare and human-centric sensing. However, their widespread adoption remains constrained by challenges in sustainable materials selection, scalable manufacturing, and responsible end-of-life management. We present the Smart, Wearable, and Eco-friendly Electronic Textile (SWEET) framework, a holistic platform that integrates sustainable design principles, precision digital manufacturing, scalable production strategies, and comprehensive end-of-life assessment.
SWEET introduces an eco-design methodology for wearable e-textiles built upon three interconnected pillars: sustainable materials engineering, quantitative performance evaluation, and circular end-of-life solutions embedded throughout the product lifecycle. The framework then employs fully inkjet-printed functional architectures on biodegradable substrates using water-based graphene and PEDOT: PSS inks to minimise solvent toxicity and material waste while maintaining high pattern fidelity and compatibility with flexible textile platforms.
Sustainability is rigorously evaluated through life-cycle assessment (LCA), demonstrating a substantially reduced climate impact compared with conventional electrode systems. Complementary biodegradation studies confirm controlled material decomposition aligned with circular design objectives. Furthermore, the platform incorporates closed-loop recycling strategies, enabling graphene-based e-textile waste to be reprocessed into conductive powders for reintegration into new devices, thereby mitigating electronic waste and supporting circular material flows.
By unifying eco-design, sustainable materials chemistry, precision digital manufacturing, advanced 2D material architectures, and circular processing strategies, the SWEET framework establishes a robust pathway toward next-generation, energy-efficient, and environmentally responsible wearable e-textiles.
Dr Bhaskar Dudem (Z-PULSE Ltd) Triboelectric sensors for zero-burden healthcare monitoring
Recent advancements in Triboelectric Nanogenerator (TENG) technology have created promising opportunities for the development of self-powered sensing systems in healthcare monitoring. Unlike conventional wearable devices that rely on batteries and necessitate regular maintenance, triboelectric sensors have the capability to harvest energy from routine human motion while simultaneously functioning as highly sensitive pressure and motion sensors.
This talk aims to highlight the research advancements in triboelectric sensing technologies and their potential to facilitate burden-free healthcare, enabling continuous physiological monitoring without requiring active user engagement. Key topics will include flexible triboelectric sensor architectures, the use of biocompatible materials, and the integration of these technologies with wearable platforms for applications such as movement monitoring, pressure sensing, and overall wellbeing assessment. The discussion will also address current challenges and outline future directions for translating triboelectric sensing technologies into practical and scalable healthcare solutions.
Dr Yunlong Zhao, Imperial College London, User‑centred design of wearable bioelectronics and micro‑power units for multifunctional physiological sensing and sustainable operation
Advances in wearable and implantable biomedical devices have rapidly accelerated in recent years, driven by the need for continuous, real-time monitoring of human health. However, conventional systems still face key challenges, including limited biocompatibility, constrained spatial–temporal resolution, and difficulties in achieving long-term, seamless integration with the human body. Developing new materials, device architectures, and fabrication strategies that enhance functionality, sustainability, and minimally invasive operation is essential for enabling the next generation of biomedical interfaces. In this talk, Dr Zhao will present some progress in flexible wearable electronics and self-powered systems for human–machine interaction. This includes electronic mesh fibre architectures for cellular interrogation and deterministic tissue regeneration, transistor-based integrated sensor platforms for multifunctional physiological monitoring, and flexible, miniaturised power units with photo-charging capabilities. Together, these technologies highlight emerging directions at the intersection of advanced materials, fibre-based device engineering, and next‑generation wearable systems.