Bioinspired Asymmetrical Pleated Textile With Unidirectional Transport Channel for Personal Moisture and Thermal Management

ABSTRACT Asymmetrical pleated textile with unidirectional water transport plays a vital role in maintaining personal moisture and thermal comfort. Inspired by the cactus branch, in this work, an asymmetrical pleated structure textile embedded with a unidirectional water transport channel was proposed by seamless weft knitting technology. This innovative textile with differential capillary effect can swiftly transport water within 1 s, with an accumulative one‐way transport index (AOTI) of 499.57%. This textile also exhibits excellent external water repellency with a stable contact angle exceeding 120°. Most importantly, water repellency, water collection, and directional water transport ability are integrated into one unified system by means of the asymmetrical pleated structure, thereby ensuring both safety and comfort for the wearer. The advanced fabrics meet high transmission indexes and fast transport rates, which are expected to provide a fresh avenue for the development and creation of more efficient and adaptive personal moisture and thermal management fabrics.