Fabrication of superhydrophobic and lyophobic paper for self‑cleaning, moisture-proof and antibacterial activity

Abstract

Paper-based materials have been used in every aspect of social life. However, the current paper-based materials face unprecedented challenges, such as limited lifespan and poor mechanical strength, owing to the deformation after absorbing a large amount of water and bacterial erosion. Herein, superhydrophobic and lyophobic paper was fabricated using internal sizing technology. Hydrophobically modified starch and Ag@SiO2 particles were added as two functional additives to paper pulp to promote a hierarchical structure formation with low surface energy. Consequently, the water and linseed oil contact angles of the obtained paper reached 154.8° and 138.4°, respectively. The resistance to moisture and water vapor also improved under high-humidity condition, the relative moisture content decreased from 511% to 278% and water vapor transmission rate also decreased from 97.44 to 21.23 g/m2·h. Furthermore, its mechanical properties could also be well maintained with a high fracture stress of 4.91 MPa. Besides, some liquid food, such as honey, easily rolled off the surface without leaving behind any residue, which demonstrated its self-cleaning ability. Furthermore, the modified paper exhibited notable bacterial repellency and antibacterial activity. This study provides an innovative method for endowing conventional paper with superhydrophobic and antibacterial properties, which can effectively expand their application scope.