Multifunctional Property of Graphene Oxide Nanostructures on Silica-Coated Cotton Fabrics

Abstract

In this article, the hydrophobic nature of colloidal silica sol prepared using the sol-gel method was studied. Uncoated cotton fabrics were impregnated with the prepared nanosols followed by pad-dry-cure method. The internal structure of nanosol was obtained through transmission electron microscopy. Graphene oxide nanostructures were deposited on the silica-coated fabrics by direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering techniques. The structural and morphological analyses of the coated and uncoated fabrics were performed using the X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy techniques, respectively. The elemental analysis using energy-dispersive spectroscopy confirmed the presence of nanoparticles adhered to the cellulose present on the surface of the fabric. The thermal stability and wettability properties of the coated and uncoated fabrics were studied. The graphene oxide-coated cotton fabrics showed better UV properties and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The biocompatibility and UV protection of the coated fabrics were in the order of GOSiCF > silica-coated cotton fabrics > uncoated cotton fabrics.