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Zheng et al. Soft Sci. 2026, 6, 32 Page 21 of 57

stimulated by near-infrared light, show around 45% contraction strain and 1.22 MPa stress, which is
comparable to the performance of genuine muscle [104] . Figure 8A depicts the schematic of the fiber shape
deformation mechanism. Importantly, during actuation, the internal graphene network experiences
reversible “permeation-depermeation” transitions that cause systematic axial resistance variations up to ten
times. This provides essential components for closed-loop control by enabling self-sensing actuation without
the need for external sensors [Figure 8B]. For large-scale applications, scalable continuous fabrication
methods are crucial. A high-speed “dual-diffusion” wet spinning method that can continuously produce
graphene/LCE composite fibers with adjustable diameters at 4,500 m·h was developed by Shi et al. . They
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proved its promise for scalable, weavable applications by demonstrating its capacity to drive biomimetic
joints. Alternative actuation mechanisms have also been investigated, such as creating
rGO/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) composite fibers for
electro-bending via electrostatic repulsion or designing actuator fibers based on the differential humidity
response between GO and rGO , providing a variety of motion solutions for soft robotics.
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Electromagnetic shielding and thermal management
Because of their exceptional thermal and electrical conductivity, graphene-based conductive fibers and their
composites have substantial application value in thermal management and electromagnetic shielding for
smart textiles, as shown in Figure 8C. Through passive heat dissipation or active heating mechanisms, these
materials allow the wearable microenvironment to be effectively regulated for thermal management. Zhu et
al. created a composite fiber with high in-plane thermal conductivity (136.2 W·m ·K ) by electrostatically
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self-assembling modified graphene nanosheets with cellulose nanofibers [Figure 8D] [105] . As shown by the
heat transfer model in Figure 8E, this material is appropriate for heat dissipation interfaces in wearable
electronics, improving wear comfort without sacrificing device functionality. Additionally, Lu et al. created
vertically oriented GF arrays with an in-plane thermal conductivity of 82.4 W·m ·K while preserving
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structural stability at low compressive moduli by using a mechanical-electric field co-alignment technique
[Figure 8F] [106] . This method provides new information for high-power microelectronic devices’ integrated
thermal management. Graphene-based fibers have extremely effective electrothermal conversion capability
in active heating applications. For example, graphene/glass fiber textiles function as dual-emitter infrared
radiators, combining high emissivity with quick electrothermal response, which makes them appropriate for
outdoor heating clothing and medicinal treatment . Rapid heating and de-icing capabilities under
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low-voltage drive are made possible by graphene sheets reinforced with ground paper fiber (GPFC), which
shows promise for wearable technology in cold climates . Additionally, in the 0.3-1.2 V low-voltage range,
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graphene/copper core-shell nanofiber textiles (GNF@tCu) show quick, consistent electrothermal reactions,
offering effective heating solutions for portable wearable devices that are power-sensitive .
[108]
By creating highly conductive networks and multiscale structures, graphene-based fibers efficiently block or
absorb electromagnetic interference (EMI) in electromagnetic shielding. According to Zhu et al., modified
graphene/cellulose nanofiber composites efficiently decrease near-field radiation interference by achieving
shielding effectiveness up to 105 dB in particular frequency bands, as illustrated in Figure 8G [105] . Figure 8H
shows composite fiber for wireless smartphone charging. An electrospun spiderweb-like rGO/carbon
composite nanofiber with -46.15 dB reflection loss in the microwave band and exceptional broadband
absorption performance was created by Wang et al. [Figure 8I] . Structural design can control a material’s
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shielding mechanism. For example, GNF@tCu uses a triple impedance mismatch structure (“air-copper
shell-graphene core”) to provide absorption-dominated shielding in the same frequency range, whereas
GPFC materials show reflection-dominated shielding in the X-band with an effectiveness of 87.3 dB . Its
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lightweight and high-efficiency features are highlighted by its shielding performance, which shows 66%
absorption loss and a shielding efficacy of 118.8 dB·cm /g [Figure 8J and K] [108] . Additionally, 67.86 dB
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shielding effectiveness is achieved by multilayer laminated fabrics with modest graphene loading, providing a
feasible route for lightweight, structurally integrated electromagnetic protective textiles .
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