Programmable spinning of integrated circuit fibres

Textiles based on electronic fibres can be used to integrate sensing, processing and feedback into a single wearable platform. However, embedding circuit-level functionality directly into fibres remains challenging due to poor fibre utilisation and unstable interconnects. Here, we report a programmable microfluidic spinning process to fabricate integrated circuit fibres. The approach combines conductive layers with different functional layers to create distinct modules capable of electron–photon conversion, electron–electron conversion, electron–ion carrier conversion, and electro-quasistatic modulation. By arranging and integrating these modules during microfluidic spinning, customisable circuits within a single fibre can be built. The fibres can then be woven, sewn, and arranged into textiles, and can withstand repeated deformation and washing. We use the approach to create electroluminescent fibres for light emission, resistor and capacitor fibres for analogue signal processing, organic electrochemical transistor fibres for digital logic operations, and electro-quasistatic fibres for touchless sensing and control.