Construct the Multifunction of Cotton Fabric by Synergism between Nano ZnO and Ag

Ag deposited ZnO (Ag/ZnO) nano materials with different Ag molar content were prepared via chemical precipitation method. The morphology of nano ZnO was rod like, while the size was 170 nm in length and 30 nm in diameter. Silver nanoparticles were found to be spherical with the diameter about 15 nm. When it deposited on the surface of the nano ZnO, the size of the nano ZnO was almost unchanged when the doping amount is 2.5 %. All the samples were treated on cotton fabric, and the laden fabric had excellent performance on hydrophobicity, including UV resistance, antibacterial activity and anti-mildew. The contact angle of fabric loaded with 3 % Ag/ZnO was 139 compare to nano ZnO, which was 103 degrees. The fabric loaded with Ag/ZnO had superior performance of UV resistance. With the increase of depositing amount, the antibacterial rates were promoted; the antibacterial rates against S. aureus, E. coil, and C. albicans of fabric with 3 % Ag/ZnO were promoted to 91 %, 96 % and 98 %. Moreover, Ag/ZnO gave cotton fabrics good anti-mildew performance, especially A. flavus, and its anti-mildew effect could reach 0 grade.