Biomimetic nanofibres for sustainable thermal insulation

Zekun Cheng, Zhiwen Cui, Ziwei Li, Sandra Galmarini, Yu Liu, Hongtao Wang, Haiyun Kui, Yiqian Zhou, Charles Morton, Su Li, Guoping Zeng, Zujiang Xiong, Ming Fu, Yayun Li, Robert Zboray, Yunmen Yang, Rui Zhou, Ranxue Yu, Jiaxing Shen, Sheng Lu, Chun-Yi Yang, Shanyu Zhao (), Lihao Zhao () and Hui Wu ()
Additional contact information
Zekun Cheng: Tsinghua University
Zhiwen Cui: Tsinghua University
Ziwei Li: Tsinghua University
Sandra Galmarini: Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Empa
Yu Liu: Beijing University of Technology
Hongtao Wang: China Quality Certification Centre
Haiyun Kui: Tsinghua University
Yiqian Zhou: Tsinghua University
Charles Morton: Tsinghua University
Su Li: ANTA (China) Co. Ltd
Guoping Zeng: ANTA (China) Co. Ltd
Zujiang Xiong: ANTA (China) Co. Ltd
Ming Fu: Tsinghua University
Yayun Li: Tsinghua University
Robert Zboray: Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Empa
Yunmen Yang: Tsinghua University
Rui Zhou: Tsinghua University
Ranxue Yu: Tsinghua University
Jiaxing Shen: Tsinghua University
Sheng Lu: Tsinghua University
Chun-Yi Yang: Tsinghua University
Shanyu Zhao: Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Empa
Lihao Zhao: Tsinghua University
Hui Wu: Tsinghua University

Nature Sustainability, 2025, vol. 8, issue 8, 957-969

Abstract: Abstract With a commitment to environmental protection, sustainable practices and ethical standards, there is compelling motivation to replace animal feathers and wool with synthetic materials that mimic the natural curl structure of animal fibres. However, the fabrication of these curved structures remains challenging due to inherent limitations in fibre spinning technologies. Here we develop a grid-induced homogeneous turbulence spinning system to efficiently spray the spinning solution, resulting in the mass production of highly curved nanofibres (HCNFs). A garment made with HCNFs offers excellent overall performance in terms of wearability, comfort, porosity (~99.60%), weight, thermal conductivity, moisture permeability and breathability. Furthermore, the garment exhibits a superior clothing insulation value (measured in CLO) of 0.31 CLO mm−1 at 0 °C, which is twice that of an 850-fill-power goose-down garment (0.15 CLO mm−1). Moreover, the results of a life cycle impact assessment demonstrate that HCNFs made of polyvinyl butyral show notable sustainability advantages over 850-fill-power down across 14 indicators, including mineral resource scarcity, land use, ecotoxicity, water consumption and human toxicity (eight indicators are less than 5% of those for down). Our findings not only underscore the advantages of nanofibres with highly curved structures but also introduce sustainable materials that outperform traditional down, making them suitable and sustainable for mass-market production.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-025-01604-x

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