In-Situ Functionalization of Cotton Fabric by TiO2: The Influence of Application Routes

Abstract

The desirable chemical, physical, electronic, and optical properties of TiO2, as well as its high availability, non-toxicity, and low price, make it very popular in the modern functional textile industry. Here, TiO2 from titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) precursors at concentrations of 2, 4, and 6% and commercial TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) in dispersion form were applied to cotton textiles using low-temperature application methods (i.e., sol–gel pad–dry–cure, pad–hydrothermal, and exhaustion–hydrothermal methods) to provide a systematic study of the influence of low-temperature application processes and TIIP concentration and on the overall properties of TiO2-functionalized textile materials. The treated cotton fabric samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) to determine their surface morphology, chemical composition, and crystal structure, while the optical properties of the synthesized TiO2 were determined using the absorption method and Tauc plotting. Afterwards, corresponding UV protection properties and photocatalytic self-cleaning activity were evaluated. In contrast to commercial TiO2, a relatively thin TiO2 deposition with an amorphous structure and a blue-shifted band gap between 3.18 and 3.28 eV was formed when applied at low temperatures. A sol with a TIIP concentrations of 2 and 4% applied using the exhaustion–hydrothermal and sol–gel dry-cure method, respectively, proved to be optimal. Both applied sol concentrations provided good UV protection and excellent photocatalytic performance, which exceeded that of commercial TiO2, even though the Ti contents in the samples were two- to three-times lower and the synthesized TiO2 exhibited an amorphous structure.

Preparation and Modification of Activated Carbon for the Removal of Pharmaceutical Compounds via Adsorption and Photodegradation Processes: A Comparative Study

“…A comparison between the FTIR spectra of AC and AC-TiO2 is shown in Figure 3. The stretching vibration of the hydroxyl group registered at 3400 cm −1 is assigned to the physisorbed surface water [34]. A slight shift to a lower wavenumber is observed and explained by the presence of TiO2 on the AC surface.…”

“…The resulting material is denoted as AC-OH a refers to OH-enriched activated carbon. In parallel, activated carbon was coated with a TiO 2 solution via an in situ impregnation method, according to a method described elsewhere [34]. Briefly, 0.1 g of AC is added to different quantities of TTIP (30, 50, and 70%) and dissolved in 20 mL of isopropanol.…”

“…A slight shift to a lower wavenumber is observed and explained by the presence of TiO 2 on the AC surface. According to Loo et al, the peak that appeared at 768 cm −1 is assigned to the stretching vibration of Ti-O [34].…”

Blocking ultraviolet and anti-staining for cotton fabric 100% using nano titan dioxide

“…However, on the market, most of them are imported from abroad with expensive prices because, in fact, our country has not studied deeply and applied practically to the production of UV-resistant finishing technology. The finishing achieves protection against UV rays by either reflecting 100% of the UV rays or by absorbing it by the finishing chemical and converting it to a harmless heat-generating ray (5,6).…”