Study the multi self-cleaning characteristics of ZnO nanorods functionalized polyester fabric

The conditions to make nanorods functionalized fabric superhydrophobic have been optimized to obtain three kinds of self-cleaning characteristics such as physical, chemical, and biological. Physical self-cleaning is the lotus effect which is characterized by measuring both water contact and sliding angles. Chemical self-cleaning is the degradation of color stains and solutions due to photocatalytic effect of ZnO when exposed to ultraviolet. Biological self-cleaning refers to the antibacterial activity of functionalized fabric which is characterized by using a Gram-negative bacterium (Escherichia coli) and a Gram-positive bacterium (Staphyloccocus aureus) by both qualitative and quantitative methods using NF ISO 20743:2009 transfer method. The chemical and biological self-cleanings are studied on nanorods functionalized fabric before and after hydrophobization.