Effects of durable antibacterial, UV-resistant cotton fabrics with differentiated polydopamine metal complexes

Abstract

Antibacterial cotton fabrics with metal derivatives often faced the low durability and poor multifunction. Here, a variety of metal ions (Fe3+, Ca2+, Zr4+, Zn2+, Co2+, and Ni2+) were utilized in synergy with biomass polydopamine (PDA) to prepare durable antibacterial and UV-resistant cotton fabrics (PM@CFs). Owing to the difference in chelating ability and characteristics of metal ions themselves, polydopamine metal complexes coatings endowed cotton fabrics with well and differentiated antibacteria and ultraviolet (UV) resistance, respectively. More importantly, all PM@CFs still maintained excellent mechanical properties and air permeability with respect to the original cotton fabrics. Among them, polydopamine zinc complex exhibited comprehensive and outstanding antibacterial property and durability due to the strong chelating ability and multi-antibacterial mechanisms of Zn2+, in which the antibacterial rates against both E. coli and S. aureus achieved 99.9 % even after 50 washing cycles.