Facile preparation of antibacterial MOF-fabric systems for functional protective wearables

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown numerous potentials as promising materials to address real-world problems. However, their practical utilization in commercial products was largely limited by the lack of downstream processing methodologies to transform MOF powders into functional products. In this study, a commercially viable solution for the general synthesis of MOF-fabric composites was introduced. On account of coordination bonding between poly(acrylic acid) and MOF substrates, MOF powders securely adhered onto the surface of fabric materials via a drip cast method to give MOF-fabric composites easily. This strategy can be applied to different MOF types, as well as a wide variety of fabric materials. The prepared materials showed excellent bacterial killing efficacy attributed to the embedded HKUST-1 MOF. In light of the recent coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, this methodology could enable the large-scale fabrication of essential MOF-based personal protective wearables (e.g., clothing and masks) for use by healthcare professionals.

Automated summary

This study introduces a commercially viable solution for the general synthesis of MOF-fabric composites, allowing for easy preparation of materials with excellent antibacterial properties by securely adhering MOF powders onto fabric materials through coordination bonding between poly(acrylic acid) and MOF substrates. This methodology could enable large-scale fabrication of essential MOF-based personal protective wearables for use by healthcare professionals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other real-world problems.