In situ synthesis of cuprous oxide on cotton fiber for developing functional textile with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity

Abstract

The development of cotton fabrics with broad-spectrum antibacterial properties utilizing rapid and facile strategies remains an enormous challenge. The immobilization of cuprous oxide (Cu 2 O) onto cotton fiber is a promising method for develpoing organic-inorganic hybrid functional textile. Herein, aiming at designing an antibacterial nanolayer on the micro-dissolved cotton fiber surface, a novel method for rapid in-situ synthesis of Cu 2 O particles on cotton fibers in polydimethylsiloxane was proposed. In the instantaneous high temperature of polydimethylsiloxane with glucose reduction, the Cu 2 O particles could be constructed on the cotton fiber surface rapidly. Furthermore, the antibacterial cotton fabrics exhibited excellent broad-spectrum antibacterial performance against both the Gram-negative bacterium ( E. coli and P. aeruginosa ) and Gram-positive bacterium ( S. aureus and B. subtilis ). Therefore, the proposed method may be a promising strategy for the rapid preparation of antibacterial cotton fabric, which may provide an indispensability application on functional cellulose materials. • An antimicrobial layer was in-situ synthesized in an organic solvent system. • Cu 2 O particles could be rapidly synthesized on the cotton fiber surface. • Excellent antibacterial performance was achieved for typical bacterium.