Graphene and MXene fibers: rising stars for emerging smart textiles

The rapid evolution of smart textiles has created a pressing demand for soft conductive fibers that simultaneously possess outstanding mechanical flexibility and high electrical conductivity. Emerging two-dimensional materials, particularly graphene and transition metal carbides/nitrides (MXenes), serve as ideal building blocks for constructing such high-performance soft conductive fibers. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in soft conductive fibers based on graphene and MXene nanosheets, with a primary focus on their integration into smart textiles. This review focus on the mainstream fabrication techniques including wet spinning, surface coating, and electrospinning which translate the intrinsic microscopic properties of graphene and MXene nanosheets into practical macroscopic fibrous assemblies. These soft conductive fibers can be effectively woven into smart textiles for a variety of wearable applications, such as electromagnetic shielding, flexible sensing, personal healthcare, thermal management and energy harvesting/storage. Furthermore, the review also discusses graphene/MXene composite and hybrid fibers, highlighting their fabrication strategies, synergistic reinforcement mechanisms, and enhanced performance benefits. Finally, we present a critical perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing graphene and MXene fibers in the pursuit of practical, large-scale wearable applications. Owing to their unique combination of properties, graphene and MXene fibers establish a robust platform for advanced wearable electronics and pave the way for next-generation smart textiles.