China's ultra-thin fibre chips transform clothing into computers to reshape future electronics

Scientists in China have developed a flexible microchip embedded inside a fibre thinner than a human hair, marking a major step towards electronics that can be worn, implanted or woven directly into everyday materials. This is reported by Xinhua News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS.

According to the source, the innovation enables computing, data storage and signal processing to exist within soft fibres, opening new possibilities for smart textiles, advanced brain implants and realistic virtual-reality touch systems.

The research team successfully integrated a complete electronic circuit into a single elastic polymer thread, overcoming the long-standing limitations of rigid, flat silicon chips. Unlike conventional electronics, the fibre-based system is designed to bend, stretch and twist while maintaining stable performance, making it suitable for use in close contact with the human body.

According to the researchers, the main challenge was constructing complex microelectronics on a soft and curved material without sacrificing precision. To solve this, they developed a technique that creates an ultra-smooth, nanometre-level surface on a stretchable base, allowing high-precision circuits to be fabricated using established lithography methods. The electronic layer is then protected and rolled into a compact, multi-layer spiral within the fibre itself, dramatically increasing component density.

Laboratory tests showed that the fibre chip can withstand more than 10,000 cycles of bending and abrasion, as well as extreme mechanical pressure. Each centimetre of fibre contains around 100,000 transistors, meaning that a single metre of material matches the transistor count of early computer processors.

In wearable technology, the fibres could enable garments that display dynamic information, from navigation guidance to health metrics, directly on fabric surfaces. In virtual and augmented reality, sensor-integrated fibres woven into gloves may deliver precise tactile feedback, allowing users to feel textures and resistance in digital environments.

Researchers believe that electronic fabrics based on fibre-level computing could one day exchange and process information as seamlessly as today’s digital devices, fundamentally changing how people interact with technology.

Photo: gorodenkoff / iStock