Nickel-ion-mediated assembly of antioxidant MXene@Caffeic acid on carboxyl-aminated cotton fabric for multifunctional wearable textiles

Despite the potential of MXene-based textiles for wearable devices, their oxidative instability and weak interfacial adhesion hinder practical applications. In this study, a nickel-ion-assisted MXene@caffeic acid (MXene@CA, MC) composite dispersion was deposited onto carboxyl-aminated cotton fabric (CPCF) via dip-coating to fabricate a multifunctional composite textile (CPCF-Ni-MC). The presence of CA limits the oxidative degradation of MXene, ensuring the surface chemical activity of the MXene nanosheets. The nickel ions enhance the stability and quantity of the deposited dispersion on the fabric through covalent bonds and electrostatic interactions. The CPCF-Ni-MC composite fabric not only retains the original fabric’s excellent breathability, moisture permeability, washability, and flexibility but also exhibits superior electrical conductivity (289.18 ​S ​cm −1 ) and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (66.8 ​dB). Furthermore, its rapid joule heating (reaching 112.1 ​°C within 49 ​s at 3.5 ​V) and ultralow infrared emissivity (0.21) enable adaptive thermal management. Additionally, the textile demonstrates exceptional environmental resistance with hydrophobic, flame-retardant properties, and UV-blocking capability (transmission rates <0.01 in the UVA and UVB regions). By achieving these diverse functionalities within a single textile through a low-cost and scalable manufacturing approach, CPCF-Ni-MC presents novel perspectives and strategies for the preparation of stable integrated multifunctional wearable devices.