Superhydrophobic Cotton Fabrics Research Articles

Superoleophilic cotton fabric decorated with hydrophobic Zn/Zr MOF nanoflowers for efficient self-cleaning, UV-blocking, and oil–water separation

Oil spills significantly threaten aquatic life, human health and the environment, necessitating oil–water separation methods. To address these environmental concerns, a hydrophobic Zn/Zr bimetallic metal–organic framework nanoflowers (H-Zn/Zr MOF-NF) functionalized superhydrophobic cotton fabric is developed for oil–water separation. Hydrophilic amine-terminated bimetallic Zn/Zr MOF with distinctive flower-like morphology is hydrothermally synthesized and functionalized with myristic acid. Finally, cotton fabric is coated with a hydrophobic emulsion of H-Zn/Zr MOF-NF and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) via dip-coating,enhancing surface roughness and lowering surface energy. The developed superhydrophobic cotton fabric shows exceptional water-repellency with a water contact angle (WCA) and water slidingangle (WSA) of 161° and 4°, respectively. The Zn/Zr MOF-NF coated superhydrophobic cotton fabric with a porous structure efficiently separates diesel oil, n-hexane, toluene, and chloroform from water mixtures with over 98% separation efficiency and high flux. The coated cotton fabric demonstrates remarkable reusability, upholding superior separation efficiency over 95% and retaining WCA at 156° after 12 cycles with excellent physical and chemical stability. The modified cotton fabric also exhibits enhanced UV-blocking properties and self-cleaning characteristics. The designed emulsion is also applied to other surfaces, such as sponge, wood, and filter paper, demonstrating promising superhydrophobicity. This study opens new possibilities for manufacturing multifunctional superhydrophobic surfaces for oil–water separation applications using bimetallic hydrophobic MOFs.

Superhydrophobic and Photocatalytic Self-Cleaning Cotton Fabrics Coated with SiO2–TiO2 Janus Particles and PDMS

Superhydrophobic and Photocatalytic Self-Cleaning Cotton Fabrics Coated with SiO2–TiO2 Janus Particles and PDMS

Facile fabrication of superhydrophobic and antibacterial dual-functional cotton fabrics for oil–water separation

Facile fabrication of superhydrophobic and antibacterial dual-functional cotton fabrics for oil–water separation

Multi-inspired Janus fabrics with asymmetric coolmax patterns for rapid sweat diffusion and effective sweat-shedding

Janus fabrics with unidirectional liquid transport property have attracted wide attention for their ability to remove excess sweat and lower skin temperature. However, most Janus fabrics face the sweat removal issue on their outer surface when the sweat absorption capacity of their hydrophilic surface reaches limit, which inevitably slows down one-way sweat transport rate and induces the fabrics to become heavy/clingy. Herein, inspired by natural Namib Desert beetles and drip tips, circular Coolmax patterns (severed as sweat extraction points near the skin) and triangular Coolmax patterns (severed as sweat removal zones on the outside of the fabric) are asymmetrically sewn on superhydrophobic cotton fabrics to enable continues one-way sweat transport and allow effective sweat diffusion/shedding on its outer surface. During the sweat transporting and evaporation process, a large amount of heat is dissipated. As a result, the created Janus fabrics can maintain human body temperature about 1.3 ℃ lower than the conventional cotton fabric. Moreover, the low adhesion (∼0.2 mN cm−2) between the wet skin and the fabric makes wearers feel more comfortable. The method can be potentially used for the large-scale commercial production of Janus fabrics and provide insights for the development of smart fabrics in the future.

Fabrication of a superhydrophobic cotton fabric with efficient antibacterial properties and asymmetric wettability via synergistic effect of quaternized chitosan/TiO2/Ag

A superhydrophobic cotton fabric with unidirectional moisture transfer ability, antibacterial, and oil-water separation capabilities was fabricated by combining a simple coating method and oxygen plasma etching. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was employed to impart low surface energy to the cotton fabric, thereby endowing it with hydrophobic characteristics. The synthesized quaternized chitosan/TiO2/Ag (CTA) compound was subsequently applied onto the cotton fabric surface to introduce a desirable level of surface roughness, thus enhancing its hydrophobic properties and conferring excellent antibacterial efficacy. The cotton was subsequently treated by oxygen plasma to trigger asymmetrical wetting on both sides. The experimental findings reveal that the optimally treated cotton fabric exhibits hydrophobic properties on the bottom surface, with a water contact angle (WCA) reaching 162.8°, while the upper surface displays hydrophilic behavior, establishing a wetting gradient along the thickness direction. Notably, even under the influence of reverse gravity, water droplets are capable of transferring from the back to the top surface within 2 s, while preventing reverse penetration of liquid. Moreover, the synthesized compound CTA endows the cotton fabric with efficient and long-lasting antibacterial properties through two modes (contact and release sterilization modes) and three sterilization mechanisms (electrostatic interaction, plasma surface resonance effect, and reactive oxygen species). Remarkably, within a time frame of only 1 h, the modified cotton fabric is able to achieve a kill rate exceeding 99% against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, the aforementioned properties demonstrate outstanding durability against repeated washing, continuous abrasion, exposure to strong acid/base, and ultraviolet radiation. Additionally, this modified cotton fabric exhibits remarkable efficiency in terms of oil-water separation, effectively separating both light and heavy oil from water. It is worth noting that the preparation process is cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and free from fluorine.

Multi-functional self-cleaning superhydrophobic cotton fabric as photothermal-reinforced crude oil separator, oil skimmer and underwater oil absorbent

Removing oil pollution from seawater prior to its desalination helps in saving time and cost. In this study, a novel superhydrophobic cotton fabric with photothermal effect and self-cleaning property was prepared via the incorporation of Fe3+-polydopamine (PDA) coating and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the fabric surface (termed as CF@PDA/CNT), followed by the grafting of (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and octadecylamine (ODA) (termed as the CF@PDA/CNT-GPTMS-ODA). CF@PDA/CNT exhibits good desalination with photothermal conversion capability on the high-salinity water (evaporation rate > 1.11 kg/(m2⋅h)), providing an effective basis for the preparation of the photothermal-assisted oil–water separator (CF@PDA/CNT-GPTMS-ODA), with which the crude oil permeation time was improved from 58 s without light to only 9 s with light, showing the pronounced contribution of the photothermal effect on the oil permeation. In addition, CF@PDA/CNT-GPTMS-ODA used in the form of oil skimmer and underwater oil absorbent demonstrates excellent oil–water separation performance (separation efficiency > 97 %). Notably, the fabric can isolate various oil phases from both pure water and simulated seawater, with separation efficiencies exceeding 97 %. This novel material offers a promising solution for addressing complex water pollution issues and introduces a potential approach for integrating photothermal conversion effect into the field of oil–water separation.

Synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial study of chitosan-zinc oxide nanocomposite-coated superhydrophobic cotton fabric.

Awareness of microbial infection, hygiene, and personal health has increased in recent years, particularly in light of the pervasive pandemic encountered by the global community. This has prompted the development of antibacterial and superhydrophobic cotton fabric to address the pressing challenge. In this investigation, we report bio-mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) synthesized using Psidium guajava leaf extract and zinc acetate. Further, the chitosan-ZnO nanocomposite (CS-ZnO) was synthesized and subsequently deposited on cotton fabric (CF) via a facile and cost-effective pad-dry-cure method to produce CS-ZnO-CF. The ZnO NPs, CS-ZnO, and CS-ZnO CF were characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM-EDAX, TGA and AFM analysis. Additionally, we investigated the mechanical properties and water contact angle (WCA) of uncoated cotton (UCF) and CS-ZnO CF. The CS-ZnO-CF demonstrated good mechanical stability even after 50 abrasion cycles, good washing durability, and good super-hydrophobicity, with a high WCA (153.1°). The antibacterial study indicated that CS-ZnO and CS-ZnO-CF exhibited higher antibacterial activity than UCF against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria. This study introduces a simple, environmentally friendly, and economically scalable method for producing multifunctional CS-ZnO CF, showcasing its potential for diverse applications.

Green and facile preparation of superhydrophobic cotton fabric using cationic POSS/PDMS-modified polyacrylate emulsion for oil–water separation

Green and facile preparation of superhydrophobic cotton fabric using cationic POSS/PDMS-modified polyacrylate emulsion for oil–water separation

Fabrication of multi-functional and breathable superhydrophobic cotton fabric based on curcumin/ZIF-8 through mild thiol-ene click chemistry reaction

Multifunctional superhydrophobic materials demonstrate remarkable performance and promising application prospects in various fields. However, there is still considerable interest in developing milder superhydrophobic modification techniques for materials. In this study, we aimed to improve the surface roughness of cotton fabric by utilizing an in-situ growth method to incorporate zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8). The fabric underwent a subsequent treatment with curcumin at room temperature, which served as a bridge for connection and provided multifunction to form a core–shell structure (curcumin/ZIF-8). Eventually, by implementing a mild thiol-ene click chemistry reaction, specifically by grafting octadecanethiol onto the C = C bond within the curcumin structure, we successfully prepared superhydrophobic modified cotton fabric known as SHCZC. The contact angle of the SHCZC material reached 168.7°, accompanied by a sliding angle of just 1°. Furthermore, SHCZC exhibited exceptional stability in harsh environments, enduring exposure to strong acids, alkalis, organic solvents, high and low temperatures, repeated washing, and abrasion. The material also demonstrated excellent thermal stability and remarkable breathability. Additionally, SHCZC possessed self-cleaning, UV-blocking, anti-fouling, antibacterial, anti-icing, and oil/water separation characteristics. The presence of these characteristics expands the potential of SHCZC beyond the field of superhydrophobic materials, positioning it as a highly advanced and versatile multifunctional material.

Development of self-cleaning superhydrophobic cotton fabric through silica/PDMS composite coating

The lotus effect informs that self-cleaning superhydrophobic surfaces can be obtained by creating rough surface structures and modifying them with chemicals that have low surface energy. Herein, the composite of hydrophobic silica nanoparticles (SNPs) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was deposited on cotton fabric by multiple dip cycles. At optimal condition, the agglomerated SNPs in PDMS produces a hierarchical rough surface, as a result the coated cotton fabric has revealed a water contact angle (WCA) of 158.41 ± 1.58° and 4° of sliding angle. Due to negligible water adhesion to a superhydrophobic surface, coated cotton fabric reveals excellent self-cleaning behavior, which was tested by dust particles, muddy water and tea droplets. Furthermore, coated cotton fabric sustains superhydrophobicity over the mechanical robustness tests including adhesive tape peeling test, sandpaper abrasion test, and ultrasonication. Therefore, such an approach may be applicable in textile industries for self-cleaning purposes.

Fabrication of multifunctional cotton fabric with “pompon mum” shaped surface by ZIF-8 for applications in oil-water separation and anti-icing

The application of metal organic framework materials (MOFs) in superhydrophobic modification has a broad prospect. In this work, a multifunctional flexible superhydrophobic cotton fabric (PSZDC) with no fluorine, high oil-water separation efficiency, and excellent anti-icing performance was prepared through the modification of cotton fabric by dopamine (DA), ZIF-8, stearic acid (SA) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). SEM and 3D ultra-depth of field stereo microscope results revealed the unique “pompon mum” shaped surface of PSZDC. ATR-FTIR, XRD, and XPS analyses confirmed the composition of the hydrophobic layer. PSZDC had a water contact angle of 165.4° and showed stability in mechanical robustness and chemical resistance tests. The oil-water separation efficiency of PSZDC was close to 100 %, and the permeation flux was as high as 36,000 (L·m−2h−1). PSZDC also exhibited excellent effect in anti-icing test, which was expected to be used as ice rescue suits and oil-water separation materials. In addition, this method was universal and repeatable, as evidenced by its application to four common fabrics: nylon-6, polyester, wool, and silk.

CdO-Nanografted Superhydrophobic Hybrid Polymer Composite-Coated Cotton Fabrics for Self-Cleaning and Oil/Water Separation Applications.

The current study presents a simple and cost-competitive method for the development of high-performance superhydrophobic and superoleophilic cotton fabrics coated with cadmium oxide/cerotic acid (CdO/CE)-polycaprolactone (PCL)- and cadmium oxide/stearic acid (CdO/ST)-polycaprolactone-grafted hybrid composites. X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy are used to characterize the CdO/CE-PCL and CdO/ST-PCL and polycaprolactone-modified cotton fabrics. Using an optical contact angle meter, the wetting behavior of corrosive liquids such as coffee, milk, tea, water dyed with methylene blue, strong acids (HCl), strong alkali (NaOH), and saturated salt solution (NaCl) on the CdO-CE/ST/PCL-modified cotton fabrics is assessed as well as the durability of CdO-CE/ST/PCL-modified cotton fabrics in corrosive liquids. Data obtained from the oil-water separation experiment indicate remarkable separation efficiency with oil purity values of ≥99.97 wt %, and high permeation flux values of up to 11,700 ± 300 L m-2 h-1 are observed for surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil emulsions via a gravity-driven technique. From the data obtained, it is concluded that the nano-CdO-grafted superhydrophobic hybrid polymer composite-coated cotton fabrics (CdO-ST/(CE)/PCL/CFs) can be utilized for self-cleaning and oil/water separation applications.

Preparation of superhydrophobic coatings with excellent mechanical and chemical stability by one-step spraying method with selected fluorine-free modifiers

Superhydrophobic coatings have great potential for applications in daily life and industrial production. In practical applications, however, the excellent mechanical and chemical stability of superhydrophobic surfaces remains a challenge. In this paper, a one-step spraying method, simple in process and low cost, was used to prepare superhydrophobic materials. To investigate the effect of different types of non-fluorinated modifiers on the wettability of the coatings, four silane non-fluorinated modifiers, dodecyltrimethoxysilane, hetradecyltrimethoxysilane, octadecyltrimethoxysilane and polydimethylsiloxane, were selected to prepare superhydrophobic surfaces. The superhydrophobic coating modified by non-fluorinated modifier retained its superhydrophobic performance after 48 h immersion in strong acid, strong alkali and salt solution and 6 months in outdoor environment, with excellent corrosion resistance. Moreover, it showed superior abrasion resistance and durability in sandpaper abrasion and tape peeling cycles tests. The superhydrophobic coating prepared by PDMS had the best overall performance compared with other silane non-fluorinated modifiers, and the separation efficiency of the prepared superhydrophobic cotton fabric could still be maintained above 99 % after 20 oil–water separation cycles. Its water contact angle was 164.8° and sliding angle was 2.3°, and it had the highest first bouncing height after the droplet bouncing test.

Photothermal Superhydrophobic Cotton Fabric Based on Silver Nanoparticles Cross-Linked by Polydopamine and Polyethylenimide.

Photothermal materials that can convert solar energy into heat energy through photothermal conversion have attracted extensive attention, but these materials are easily polluted by the environment. Here, we propose a simple and effective strategy for constructing photothermal superhydrophobic cotton fabrics with self-cleaning ability. The PDA@PEI@GA@Ag@PDMS-coated cotton fabric can achieve good superhydrophobicity (water contact angle: 159.6°) by a simple dipping method and mussel-inspired dopamine surface modification, which is regulated by the mass of dopamine, the mass of silver nitrate, and the concentration of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The coated cotton fabric has good physical and chemical stability. Meanwhile, the coated cotton fabric has excellent self-cleaning and antifouling properties. The superhydrophobic PDA@PEI@GA@Ag@PDMS fabric exhibits excellent and stable photothermal properties, with the surface temperature reaching 70.4 °C under simulated sunlight with a current of 20 A. This photothermal superhydrophobic fabric with self-cleaning properties is expected to be applied in the field of photothermal conversion.

Multifunctional design integrating the flame-retardant and antifouling functionality into superhydrophobic cotton fabric

Here, we construct a stable flame-retardant superhydrophobic cotton fabric (FRS-CF) via simple impregnation method. The firstly deposited ammonium polyphosphate/zinc borate (APP/ZB) and silicon dioxide form an inorganic hierarchical structure, which not only endow the fabric with flame retardancy, but also provide appropriate roughness for the construction of superhydrophobicity coating. The latter deposited polydimethylsiloxane function as low surface energy materials to achieve the superhydrophobic performance, and the added epoxy resin could strongly increase the overall mechanical stability of the coating through providing interfacial adhesion. Importantly, the hierarchical micro-sized structure generated by the deposition of APP/ZB can supply particular protection for the constructed superhydrophobic coating from flame. Thus, the modified cotton fabric can self-extinguish during vertical combustion and display excellent flame retardancy with oxygen limitation index above 30 %. Additionally, the coating shows excellent water repellency, self-cleaning, anti-fouling properties and oil-water separation to a variety of liquids. The constructed coating holds durable flame-retardant and robust mechanical stability. After cycled friction test, the FRS-CF still maintains excellent superhydrophobicity and the oxygen limitation index remains above 30 %. We believe that the design of robust superhydrophobic/flame-retardant coating may advance the development of flame-retardant cotton fabric and provide new possibilities for the practical application of superhydrophobic coating.

Self-cleaning, superhydrophobic, and antibacterial cotton fabrics with chitosan-based composite coatings

The development of cotton fabrics with special properties such as superhydrophobicity, self-cleaning, oil/water separation, anti-bacterial activity and blood repellency without compromising its intrinsic properties such as flexibility, breathability, comfort, and biodegradability is quite challenging task. In this study, a simple and environmentally friendly approach was used to fabricate superhydrophobic cotton fabric by introducing chitosan-based composite coatings over cotton fabric. The surface properties of the cotton samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The prepared cotton fabrics showed excellent superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 154.4° and also possess excellent antibacterial activity against Gram positive and negative bacteria with inhibition zone of 16 mm and 22 mm in disk diffusion method and shake flask method results revealed that the chitosan-PAni-ZnO-STA coated cotton effectively inhibits the bacterial growth. Furthermore, the self-cleaning, blood repellency and oil-water separation performance of cotton fabric were also performed to examine the feasibility of as-modified cotton in both environmental and clinical applications.

A novel approach to fabricate durable superhydrophobic and UV protective cotton fabrics using fly ash and graphene nanoplatelets

A novel approach to fabricate durable superhydrophobic and UV protective cotton fabrics using fly ash and graphene nanoplatelets

Designing Non-Fluorinated Superhydrophobic Fabrics with Durable Stability and Photocatalytic Functionality.

The ability of a superhydrophobic fabric to stay dry and clean has aroused great interest in daily life. Especially, the development of an eco-friendly non-fluorinated water-repellent textile has become a hot topic in recent years. We present a green strategy to achieve self-cleaning textile by in situ deposition of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles on cotton with subsequent polydimethylsiloxane modification. The prepared cotton fabric exhibits superior water repellency with a water contact angle of 157°. Meanwhile, this superhydrophobic surface can easily be ruined by oil contaminants and then exhibit a decreased water contact angle of 0°. However, the oil-contaminated surface can recover its water repellency after being irradiated. After six cycles of contamination using oleic acid and successive photodegradation, the fabric surface remains superhydrophobic. The obtained superhydrophobic surface does not adversely affect the fabric's strength and air permeability. Therefore, the developed superhydrophobic cotton fabrics have the potential to be used in a variety of industrial scenarios and in daily life.

Robust superhydrophobic cotton fabrics based on nano-silica particles hybrid epoxy resin: self-cleaning, anti-fouling, anti-abrasion and oil–water separation

The design strategy of this study, using epoxy resin (EP) with excellent chemical/mechanical stability as a raw material, can obtain robust superhydrophobic cotton fabrics. Firstly, two different properties of nano-silica particles (nano-SiO2 microspheres and nano-SiO2 sols) were obtained by the sol–gel method. The hydrophobicity of cotton fabric can be significantly improved by hybridizing EP with nano-SiO2 particles to construct a robust rough structure of cotton fabric. At the same time, the introduction of the low surface energy substance octadecylamine, which can form intermolecular crosslinking with dodecyltrimethoxysilane and EP by hydrogen bonding, was introduced and the hydrophobicity of cotton fabric was further improved. It was concluded that these superhydrophobic cotton fabrics could withstand 10 sandpaper abrasion tests and different pH solution treatments with a certain degree of chemical/mechanical stability performance. The as-prepared cotton fabric exhibited excellent separation efficiency for dichloromethane/water mixtures. The reactive yellow SNE (200%) dye as a contaminant can be easily carried away by water droplets and has an excellent self-cleaning effect. The superhydrophobic cotton fabric that was prepared in this way repelled the stain solution and showed excellent stain resistance. The results indicated that these superhydrophobic cotton fabrics had excellent properties of self-cleaning, anti-fouling, anti-abrasion and oil–water separation. In addition, the superhydrophobic cotton fabric obtained by simple preparation has a wide range of promising applications for self-cleaning in households, industrial activities and outdoor decoration.

Stearic Acid and CeO2 Nanoparticles Co-functionalized Cotton Fabric with Enhanced UV-Block, Self-Cleaning, Water-Repellent, and Antibacterial Properties.

Superhydrophobic cotton fabrics with multifunctional features are highly desired in domestic and outdoor applications. However, the short coating longevity and hazardous reagents significantly reduce their commercial-scale applications. Herein, we introduce CeO2 nanoparticles and stearic acid (SA) to develop a fluorine-free, durable superhydrophobic cotton fabric that mimics the lotus effect. The pristine cotton fabric is treated with APTES-functionalized CeO2 nanoparticles by immersion followed by a dip and drying treatment with a 2% myristic acid solution. This sequential process creates a stable superhydrophobic cotton fabric (SA/CeO2-cotton fabric) with a water contact angle of 158° and a water sliding angle of 5°. The results are attributed to the combined effect of CeO2 nanoparticles and stearic acid that enhances surface roughness and reduces surface sorption energy. APTES facilitates the durable attachment of CeO2 nanoparticles and stearic acid to the cotton fabric. The modified cotton fabric is characterized by advanced analytical tools, demonstrating enhanced superhydrophobicity, self-cleaning, and antiwater absorption properties. Additionally, it exhibits remarkable UV-blocking (UPF 542) and antibacterial properties. The designed superhydrophobic cotton fabric unveils good mechanical, thermal, and chemical durability. The proposed strategy is simple, green, and economical and can be used commercially for functional fabric preparation.