Cotton fabric loaded with self-dispersive and reactive biphasic TiO2 for durable self-cleaning activity and ultraviolet protection

Abstract

In this article, amino-functionalized TiO₂ (TiO₂/KH550) was obtained via a mild reaction between 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and TiO₂ with the aid of concentrated ammonia solution. 4-((4,6-Dichloro-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl)amino) sodium benzenesulfonate (SAT) was synthesized and characterized using ¹H NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Self-dispersive and reactive TiO₂ (TiO₂/KH550/SAT) was prepared via a nucleophile substitution reaction between TiO₂/KH550 and SAT. Finally, cotton fabric samples loaded with different amounts of TiO₂/KH550/SAT were achieved via an exhaust dyeing method. The chemical structures, dispersions, and thermal performances of TiO₂, TiO₂/KH550, and TiO₂/KH550/SAT were investigated using FT-IR, zeta potential measurements, and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The crystalline phase, morphology, chemical composition, and optical absorption properties of the cotton fabrics were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS). Moreover, the anti-ultraviolet, self-cleaning, and washing fastness properties of the cotton fabrics were investigated. It was found that TiO₂/KH550/SAT demonstrated excellent dispersion stability in aqueous solution, even after standing for a month. Cotton fabrics loaded with TiO₂/KH550/SAT exhibited attractive anti-ultraviolet performance, highly efficient and durable self-cleaning activity, and appreciable washing fastness. A mechanism and possible reactions related to the preparation of the self-cleaning cotton fabrics loaded with TiO₂/KH550/SAT were proposed.