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Silver nanoparticles were synthesised on the modified cotton fibres using an in situ method. Acrylic acid was grafted on the surface of cotton using plasma technology as a means to enhance the loading efficiency of nanoparticles. The loading efficiency of silver nanoparticles into the cotton fabric was examined by an atomic absorption spectrometer. The surface of the fibres was characterised by low-voltage scanning electron microscopy and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. The cotton fabrics loaded with Ag nanoparticles were examined by thermogravimetric analysis. In addition, the antibacterial activity of loaded samples was determined according to the AATCC test method 147-2004. Grafting of acrylic acid on cotton fibre leads to increase in the loading efficiency of silver nanoparticles and this sample showed the highest antibacterial activity.

Electrospinning of polymer blends solutions offers the potential to prepare novel nanofibers for use in a variety of applications. Conductive blend nanofibers of polyaniline doped with camphorsulfonic acid (PANi CSA) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) were prepared by electrospinning process. The influences of PANi CSA content on the morphological, electrical conductivity, and mechanical properties of the blend nanofibers were investigated. The SEM analysis of the nanofibers samples revealed that the average diameter of the nanofibers decreases with increasing PANi CSA concentration. The resultant PAN/PANi CSA blend nanofibers diameters were in the range of 59 to 234 nm. Tensile results showed that 30 wt% PANi CSA load ing to the electrospun PAN/PANi CSA blend nanofibers gave rise to 10 fold and 3 fold increase in the tensile modulus and tenacity of nanofiber layers, respectively. The electrical conductivity measurements of these nanofibers could be adjusted from ~10 -10 S/cm (insulator) to ~10 -1 S/cm (conductor) by choosing the dif ferent amounts of PANi CSA between 0 and 40 wt%. The significant enhanced mechanical and electrical properties of these PAN/PANi CSA blend nanofibers can be utilized for quite promising future electronic applications.

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