Cellulose hierarchical sponge-aerogel fibers via ionic liquid-assisted coaxial wet spinning: lightweight architectures for gas detection and adaptive thermal management

Abstract

The development of cellulose-based aerogel fibers integrating exceptional mechanical robustness with multi-functionality remains crucial yet challenging for advancing next-generation smart textiles in wearable applications. This study presents an innovative ionic liquid-assisted coaxial wet-spinning approach that enables continuous, scalable production of hierarchically structured cellulose-based composite fibers with a heterogeneous porous structure (MPC&C sponge-aerogel fibers) and systematically investigates the effect of spinning parameters on the structure of the obtained fiber. The heterogeneous porous structure and the MXene/PANI functional material in the sheath layer provide the MPC&C sponge-aerogel fiber with remarkable performance metrics: high tensile strength (2.5 MPa), exceptional NH₃ sensing response (324% at 100 ppm), and outstanding thermal insulation properties (thermal conductivity 0.064 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹). These synergistic characteristics originate from the unique combination of hierarchical porosity and conductive nanomaterial incorporation, enabling dual-mode functionality in intelligent wearable systems for environmental monitoring and personal thermal management. Our scalable fabrication strategy establishes a new paradigm for developing multifunctional aerogel fibers with practical potential in advanced textile applications.