Enhanced ultraviolet-protective textiles based on reduced graphene oxide-silver nanocomposites on polyethylene terephthalate using ultrasonic-assisted in-situ thermal synthesis

The present research develops a novel in-situ synthesis method to produce a high performance nanocomposite coating on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric as an enhanced UV-protective textile. Reduced graphene oxide-silver (rGO-Ag) multi-layer nanocomposite was in-situ synthesized on the PET fabric through the direct redox reaction between the Ag+ ions and GO sheets by using ultrasonic and thermal treatment. The X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscope confirmed that the well-synthesized Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) loaded on PET fabric in presence of the GO sheets by using ultrasonic waves without reducing and capping agents. In this research, GO sheets were used as reducing and capping agents along with the ultrasonic treatment at low temperature condition. The final average size of the synthesized AgNPs in solution, on the PET surface and in the freestanding film is lower than 100 nm. The ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of the PET fabric incorporating multi-layer rGO-Ag nanocomposite as a UV blocking system could reach to 6145.66, up to the 183-fold higher than uncoated PET fabric (UPF 33.63). In addition, the final fabric demonstrates a good air permeability and antibacterial properties due to the effective coating of rGO-Ag nanocomposite on PET surface.

Automated summary

This research developed a novel method to synthesize a high-performance nanocomposite coating on PET fabric to enhance its UV-protection. The in-situ synthesis of rGO-Ag multilayer nanocomposite was achieved through direct redox reaction between Ag+ ions and GO sheets using ultrasonic and thermal treatment. The synthesized AgNPs with average size less than 100 nm were loaded on PET fabric, providing a significantly higher UV protection factor (UPF) of 6145.66 compared to uncoated PET fabric (UPF 33.63). Furthermore, the final fabric showed good air permeability and antibacterial properties due to the coating of rGO-Ag nanocomposite.