Graphene and Graphene Oxide Textile Applications

Graphene (single-layer sp² carbon, thickness 0.335 nm) and graphene oxide (GO, C:O ratio 2:1–4:1) are applied to textiles via dip-coating, spray coating, or inkjet printing at loadings of 0.1–5.0 g/m². Electrical conductivity of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) coated cotton reaches 10–200 S/m after chemical reduction with hydrazine or thermal reduction at 200–300°C. Thermal conductivity enhancement of 150–400% at 5 wt% graphene in polymer fiber matrices improves heat dissipation in sportswear. Graphene-coated fabrics achieve EMI shielding effectiveness of 20–40 dB (IEEE 299) at 0.5–2.0 g/m² loading in the 1–18 GHz range. Global graphene textile market is projected to reach $210 million by 2028.