Producing colored cotton fabrics with functional properties by combining silver nanoparticles with nano titanium dioxide

Abstract

In this study, functional cotton fabrics were prepared by applying titania as a photocatalyst and using silver nanoparticles as both a novel class of colorant for coloration and an agent capable of modifying the TiO2 nanoparticles. Silver colloids with different colors were primarily synthesized through reduction of silver nitrate and then coloration of cotton fabrics and synthesis of Ag/TiO2 nanocomposite on fabric surface was performed by adding titanium dioxide nanoparticles (P25) in an ultrasonic bath. The treated cotton fabrics were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and UV–Vis reflectance spectroscopy. The color effect, self-cleaning property, antibacterial efficiency, ultraviolet (UV) blocking activity and hydrophobicity of the samples were also studied. The results indicated that all properties of the treated cotton fabric with Ag/TiO2 nanocomposite were superior compared to the treated sample with TiO2 alone. Moreover, the photocatalytic activity of titanium dioxide has no negative effect on fabric color and the color variation of treated fabric after UV irradiation was negligible.