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Zheng et al. Soft Sci. 2026, 6, 32 Page 5 of 57

control during the spinning process continue to limit the large-scale continuous production of GFs,
impeding industrialization. Additionally, achieving performance balance under cost-control conditions while
simultaneously maximizing the fiber’s mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, and textile processing
adaptability is the main difficulty for commercial application.

In light of this, this review methodically arranges the primary performance metrics, popular fabrication
techniques, and most recent developments of flexible graphene and MXene-based soft conductive fibers in
cutting-edge wearable applications like electromagnetic shielding, energy harvesting/storage, and smart
sensing. An overall roadmap for this review is shown in Figure 2, which follows the logical development
from the inherent features of graphene and MXene nanosheets to the production of fibers and performance
optimization, and finally to their incorporation into smart textile systems. This diagram shows the causal
connection connecting nanoscale materials science and textile-scale engineering applications in addition to
outlining the paper’s structural foundation. In order to give researchers a thorough technical perspective and
theoretical background, it seeks to build a “structure-property-application” correlation paradigm that spans
from microscopic nanosheet structure regulation to macroscopic fiber performance transfer. Along with
describing future development paths for high-performance wearable systems, adaptive textiles, and
integrated electronic fabrics, the article also examines existing constraints in large-scale manufacture and
environmental stability. Ultimately, this work seeks to guide the field toward practical applications, enhanced
performance, and intelligent innovation.

GRAPHENE-BASED CONDUCTIVE FIBERS

Features of performance
In order to provide durability and comfort during textile production and everyday wear, flexible conductive
fibers for smart textiles must have exceptional mechanical qualities in addition to high electrical conductivity
for effective signal transmission and energy storage. The multi-level structure of GFs, which includes the
macroscopic morphology of the fiber, the aggregated state between sheets, and the in-plane structure of
graphene sheets, essentially determines their performance. By carefully regulating these structures, the
preparation procedure eventually establishes the maximum fiber performance. The mechanical, electrical,
and thermal characteristics of GFs will be covered in detail in this section, along with a thorough
examination of methods and processes for improving their performance through ideal preparation
methods [35,36] .

Mechanical properties
Mechanical property testing parameters: Unless otherwise noted, the GFs described here were tested for
tensile strength, Young’s modulus, and toughness under conventional laboratory circumstances
(temperature: 23-25 °C, relative humidity: 45%-55%). A universal testing machine with a gauge length of
10-20 mm and a crosshead speed of 1-5 mm·min was used for the testing. Any departures from normal
-1
settings (such as high-temperature or wet-state testing) are specifically noted in the associated original
publications. These standard testing protocols are in line with techniques frequently used in the literature.

The size and orientation of graphene sheets, interfacial interactions between sheets, structural defect density,
and the microscopic assembly mode of the fibers are the main multiscale structural factors that control the
macroscopic mechanical properties of GFs. Figure 3A displays atomic force microscopy (AFM) pictures of
graphene nanosheets. Even though single-layer graphene has an incredibly high intrinsic strength
(~150 GPa), there are many obstacles in the way of successfully transferring this strength to macroscopic
fibers. The sheet size of GO, the basic component of fibers, has a significant impact on their mechanical
characteristics. Since pure graphene is naturally insoluble in water, it cannot be directly dissolved in solvents