Highly Durable Antibacterial Textiles: Cross-Linked Protonated Polyaniline-Polyacrylic Acid with Prolonged Electrical Stability

Abstract

This study addressed the limited antibacterial durability of textile materials, which has suppressed their applications in preventing infectious disease transmission. A class of highly durable antibacterial textiles was developed by incorporating protonated polyaniline (PANI) textile with poly-(acrylic acid) (PAA) as the functional binder via cross-linking polymerization. The resulting PAA−PANI textile exhibits exceptional electrical conductivity, reaching 8.33 ± 0.04 × 10 −3 S/cm when cross-linked with 30% PAA. Remarkably, this textile maintains its electrical stability at 10 −3 S/cm even after 50 washing cycles, demonstrating unparalleled durability. Furthermore, the PANI−PAA textile showcases remarkable antibacterial efficacy, with 95.48% efficiency against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 92.35% efficiency against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, even after 50 washing cycles. Comparatively, the PAA−PANI textile outperforms its PANI counterpart by achieving an astounding 80% scavenging activity rate, whereas the latter only displayed a rate of 3.22%. This result suggests a solid integration of PAA−PANI into the textile, leading to sustainable antioxidant release. The successful cross-linking of PAA−PANI in textiles holds significant implications for various industries, offering a foundation for the development of wearable textiles with unprecedented antibacterial durability and electrical stability. This breakthrough opens new avenues for combating infectious diseases and enhancing the performance of wearable technologies.