Fiber memristors for smart textiles: materials, devices, and applications

Fiber memristors represent a transformative platform for next-generation wearable electronics, enabling the seamless integration of non-volatile memory and neuromorphic computing directly onto or within textile fibers. This intrinsic functionalization at the fiber level effectively overcomes the “sense-transmit-process” separation inherent in conventional wearable systems, paving the way for truly intelligent, energy-efficient, and autonomous textiles. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the development and state-of-the-art research in this emerging field. We first elucidate the fundamental device architectures and underlying resistive-switching mechanisms. Subsequently, we systematically summarize the material systems and advanced fabrication strategies employed to construct robust and weavable memristive fibers, followed by a critical analysis of their electrical, mechanical, and functional performance metrics. A dedicated section highlights the cutting-edge applications of fiber memristors, particularly in integrated sensing-memory-computing systems, neuromorphic signal processing, and adaptive human-machine interfaces. Key challenges are thoroughly discussed, along with promising future research directions. By offering a holistic perspective spanning materials, devices, and integrated systems, this review aims to provide comprehensive theoretical insights and technical guidance for the development of next-generation intelligent textiles, thereby accelerating the deep fusion of electronic functionality and textile substrates.