Layer-by-Layer Photocatalytic Assembly for Solar Light-Activated Self-Decontaminating Textiles

Novel photocatalytic nanomaterials that can be used to functionalize textiles, conferring to them efficient solar-light-activated properties for the decontamination of toxic and lethal agents, are described. Textiles functionalized with one-dimensional (1D) SnS₂-based nanomaterials were used for photocatalytic applications for the first time. We showed that 1D SnS₂/TiO₂ nanocomposites can be easily and strongly affixed onto textiles using the layer-by-layer deposition method. Ultrathin SnS₂ nanosheets were associated with anatase TiO₂ nanofibers to form nano-heterojunctions with a tight interface, considerably increasing the photo-oxidative activity of anatase TiO₂ due to the beneficial interfacial transfer of photogenerated charges and increased oxidizing power. Moreover, it is easy to process the material on a larger scale and to regenerate these functionalized textiles. Our findings may aid the development of functionalized clothing with solar light-activated photocatalytic properties that provide a high level of protection against chemical warfare agents.