Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 April 2013
In this paper, we developed textile-based sensors for measuring vital signs. We fabricated conductive fiber made from organic conjugated polymers without the use of inorganic materials. While the tensile strength of pure poly-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene/poly-4-styrene sulfonic acid (PEDOT/PSS) fiber was low, it was unsuitable to fabricate textile-based devices. To avoid this drawback, we examined the composite fibers composed of PEDOT/PSS and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to obtain good mechanical properties as well as a high electronic conductivity. PVA was used as a matrix component to connect colloidal PEDOT/PSS particles within the fibers. We succeeded continuous and uniform spinning from the mixed solution of PEDOT/PSS and PVA through the modified wet spinning process. Tensile strength of the composite fiber increased to twice that consisted only of PEDOT/PSS. In addition, the electric conductivity increased about three times by the combination with PVA. Textiles made of conductive fibers behaved as flexible electrodes for the detection of heartbeat.