Constructing polyaniline nanowire arrays as efficient traps on graphene sheets to promote compound synergetic effect in the assembled coating for multifunctional protective cotton fabrics

Abstract

Multifunctional protective coating with a novel trap structure containing Graphene oxide (GO) and Polyaniline (PANI) arrays is constructed on the surface of cotton fabrics through in–situ polymerization and spray assisted layer–by–layer assembly. The construction of nanoscale protective coatings with controllable thickness and different compounds on the surface of the cotton fabrics through spray assisted layer–by–layer assembly can better exert the molecular interaction between different layers and synergistic effect of different elements. More importantly, unique structure of PANI arrays are grown on the surface of the cotton fibers and GO sheets play very important role on the improvement of multifunctional performances for the cotton fabrics. PANI arrays can accept more APP molecules to promote the flame retardant behavior and construct nearly closed subspace to resist heat and oxygen, accompanying with the formation of inorganic barrier layer, excellent self–extinguishing ability can be achieved through nanoscale coating. Particularly, (GO–PANI1.0)3 coated cotton fabric with a weight gain of 12.7 wt% possesses the excellent self–extinguished ability and minimizes the total heat release value about 82.5% of pristine cotton. In addition, the PANI and GO reduced partially during in–situ polymerization of aniline can present good conductive pathway, as a result, the coated fabric also exhibits significant antistatic property, while can remarkably inhibit the growth of E. coli and S. aureus. Therefore this novel strategy with facile and scalable features can provide reference for developing various kinds of cheap composite nanocoating for multifunctional advanced textiles.