UV-Induced Photocatalytic Cashmere Fibers

Cashmere with UV-induced photocatalytic properties is developed for the first time by applying nanocrystalline anatase TiO₂ colloid that is free of inorganic acids and organic solvents via a facile low-temperature one-step sol-gel process. The coated cashmere exhibits remarkable UV-induced photodegradation of methyl orange. Furthermore, the photocatalytic nano-coating on cashmere exhibits significant stability after repetitive washing cycles without the need for chemical or physical pretreatment, where the photocatalytic activities remain almost unchanged after three washing cycles while maintaining a water contact angle above 150°. The one-step functionalization process also minimizes the impact on the peculiar intrinsic properties of cashmere. These findings indicate that cashmere combining reproducible UV-induced photocatalytic activity with stable superhydrophobicity has potential in practical applications.