Reduced Graphene Oxide-Coated Fabrics for Joule-Heating and Antibacterial Applications

Multifunctional textiles have emerged as a significant area of research due to their growing importance and diverse applications. The main requirement for these fabrics is electroconductivity, which is usually gained by incorporating conductive materials such as graphene into the textile structure. In this article, an electrochemical method was demonstrated to integrate different loadings of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) into fabrics for enhanced electrical conductivity. The process involves spray coating of graphene oxide (GO) onto the fabric, followed by in situ electrochemical reduction of GO, resulting in a coating layer of rGO nanosheets. The rGO-coated fabric exhibited exceptional Joule-heating capabilities, achieving 127 degrees C under a 9 V direct voltage with only 770 mu g/cm(2) of rGO loading. Moreover, the antibacterial properties of the rGO-coated fabric were demonstrated, showing a significant reduction rate of over 99.99% against both Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. Joule-heating and antibacterial performances of the rGO-coated fabric were investigated over eight repeated cycles, demonstrating excellent repeatability. The simplicity of the fabrication method, along with the electrothermal and antibacterial effects of the rGO-coated fabric, makes it a promising material for various practical applications.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the integration of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) into fabrics using an electrochemical method, leading to improved electrical conductivity and antibacterial properties. The rGO-coated fabric exhibits exceptional Joule-heating capabilities and a significant reduction rate against bacteria. The simplicity of the fabrication method and the desirable characteristics of the rGO-coated fabric make it a promising material for various practical applications.