Advances in Screen‐Printed Conductive Inks for Sustainable and High‐Performance E‐Textiles: Innovations, Challenges, and Future Prospects
Assia Batine, Abdelkrim Boumegnane, Ayoub Nadi, Cédric Cochrane, Omar Cherkaοui, Mohamed Tahiri
Abstract
Recent advancements in electronic textiles, enabled using screen‐printed conductive inks, represent a significant innovation in smart clothing and wearable devices. Screen printing allows the direct embedding of conductive circuits onto fabrics, thereby unlocking a wide range of applications in healthcare, sports, fashion, and wearable technology. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the screen‐printing technique, outlining its principles, variations, and key factors critical for achieving high‐quality results. It also highlights the significance of conductive ink formulations and emphasizes the need for reducing environmental impact by limiting toxic solvents and adopting biodegradable binders and additives, which are crucial for creating more sustainable e‐textiles. Furthermore, the review explores how various parameters affect the electrical performance and durability of printed textiles, particularly in response to washing, bending, and wear. Finally, potential applications of e‐textiles across different industries, along with emerging trends and future research directions in wearable printed e‐textiles, are discussed.