Nanocomposite TiO₂/ZnO/chitosan by method sol-gel for self-cleaning application

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Textile Engineering

Background:

• Developing advanced functional textiles is crucial for innovative applications.
• Self-cleaning fabrics offer enhanced durability and reduced maintenance.
• Titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), and chitosan are promising materials for surface modification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize TiO2/ZnO/Chitosan coated cotton fabric.
• To evaluate the self-cleaning performance of the coated fabric under UV irradiation.
• To investigate the effect of TiO2 concentration on the material properties and self-cleaning efficacy.

Main Methods:

• Sol-gel method was employed to coat cotton fabric with TiO2, ZnO, and chitosan at pH 9.
• Various concentrations of TiO2 (0.5g, 1g, 2g) were used.
• Structural analysis included X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.
• UV-visible spectroscopy was used for bandgap determination.
• Self-cleaning tests involved irradiating dyed fabric samples with UVA-UVB lamps for 15 hours.

Main Results:

• XRD analysis indicated peak shifts, with a more significant shift observed for the 2g TiO2 sample.
• FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of Ti-O-Ti bonds (TiO2) and -OH/-NH2 groups (chitosan).
• The band gaps were measured as 5.64 eV, 5.63 eV, and 5.58 eV for 0.5g, 1g, and 2g TiO2 concentrations, respectively.
• The TiO2/ZnO/Chitosan coated fabric with 2g TiO2 exhibited complete dye degradation after 15 hours of UVA-UVB irradiation.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized TiO2/ZnO/Chitosan coated cotton fabric exhibits effective self-cleaning properties.
• Higher concentrations of TiO2, specifically 2g, enhance the self-cleaning performance.
• The material shows potential for developing advanced self-cleaning textiles.