In this present investigation, the colloidal silica and nano ZrO2 embedded silica solution were prepared using sol-gel method followed by the sonication process. The particle size was measured for the prepared silica sol with and without ZrO2 nanoparticles. The prepared nanoparticles were coated on the cotton fabric through pad dry method. The phase and functional group analysis of the cotton fabrics after coating reveals the presence of metal oxides on the surface. The surface morphology of the coated fabrics analysed using SEM shows that the nanoparticles were in spherical morphology with slight agglomerations. The element analysis confirms the presence of silica (SiO2) and ZrO2/SiO2 nanoparticles along with cellulose on the surface. The washing durability of the coated fabrics after 5th and 10th wash indicates that the nanoparticles were strongly adhered on the fabric surface. The burning performance of coated fabrics is in the order of ZrO2/SiO2 (19.5 s) > SiO2 (11.3 s) before and after wash; UV resistance of fabric was in the order of ZrO2/SiO2 > SiO2 > uncoated fabric. Cotton fabrics coated with ZrO2/SiO2 particles show better UV and flammability protection for textile applications.

Anatase titania (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles were prepared from natural minerals (rutile sand) using acid extraction by sol-gel method. The obtained X-ray diffraction results show that the particle possesses crystallite size of 12 nm. The colloidal silica and TiO 2 nanoparticle-embedded colloidal silica solutions were prepared using sol-gel method followed by sonication process. The particle size was measured for the prepared colloidal TiO 2 /SiO 2 sol. The prepared solution was coated on the surface of the cotton fabric through pad-dry-cure method. Elemental analysis confirms the presence of TiO 2 /SiO 2 nanocomposite along with cellulose on the surface of the fabric. The washing durability of the coated fabrics after fifth and 10th washes indicates that the nanoparticles strongly adhered to the fabric surface. The ultraviolet resistance, burning performance, and antibacterial activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria of TiO 2 /SiO 2 -coated fabric were found to be better than those of un-coated fabrics before and after washing.

In this study, a conventional mixed oxide method was used to prepare nanocomposites of titanium dioxide and magnesium aluminate samples. The synthesis process of a low concentration of posttransition metal oxide like TiO2 with pre-transition metal oxides like MgO and Al₂O3 and its gas sensing behaviour were investigated. The present work focuses on applying different nanocomposite samples of (TiO2) x and MgAl₂O₄ (at x = 0 magnesium aluminate namely MA; x = 0°25 and 0.75 N namely MAT0.25 and MAT0.75 at 4 and 10 wt% of TiO2 in MgAl₂O₄ respectively and TiO₂ namely T) for gas sensing applications (O₂, CO and H₂ gases). The composite samples were characterized by their X-ray diffraction pattern, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, a particle size analyzer, X-ray fluorescent spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet visible spectroscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller methods. The response to changes in gas pressure (from 0.5 to 2 bar) was quantitatively studied in all samples (MA, MAT0.25, MAT0.75 and T) at different operating temperatures from 300 to 600 K. All samples showed a fast and improved gas response at different operating temperatures. Moreover, it was observed that the gas response of the composite sample, MAT0.75 increased by 11% more than the pure titanium sample at an operating temperature of 360 K, on the passage of O₂ gas.