Functionalizing cellulose textiles for indoor pollutant removal through facile and durable redox assembly

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Textile Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Nano-finishing agents for cotton face challenges with toxicity and durability.
• Developing safe and robust methods for cotton functionalization is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a facile and durable method for in-situ synthesis of manganese oxide (MnO₂) nanoparticles on cotton textiles.
• To impart antibacterial and pollutant removal functionalities to cotton fabrics.

Main Methods:

• Utilized alternating assembly of potassium permanganate (KMnO₄), manganese chloride (MnCl₂), and 2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride (EPTAC) for MnO₂ nanoparticle deposition.
• Grafted EPTAC onto cotton fibers to facilitate MnO₂ adsorption and anchoring, ensuring nanoparticle adhesion and durability.
• Incorporated silver (Ag) doping into MnO₂ for enhanced electron transfer and antibacterial efficacy.

Main Results:

• Achieved rapid in-situ synthesis of MnO₂ nanoparticles on cotton within 5 minutes with minimal fiber damage.
• Demonstrated exceptional nanoparticle durability through multiple washing cycles due to strong anchoring mechanisms.
• Resulting textiles exhibited over 99% inactivation of microbes in 20 minutes and 72% formaldehyde degradation in 30 minutes.
• Silver-doped MnO₂ enhanced antibacterial activity and electron transfer efficiency.

Conclusions:

• The proposed strategy offers a durable and efficient method for creating multifunctional cotton textiles.
• This approach provides a viable alternative for producing decorative textiles with pollutant removal capabilities.
• The eco-friendly synthesis method addresses toxicity and durability concerns associated with traditional nano-finishing agents.