Durable easy-cleaning and antibacterial cotton fabrics using fluorine-free silane coupling agents and CuO nanoparticles

Multifunctional fabrics of high durability through a scalable and eco-friendly technique remains a great challenge hindering their commercialization. In this work, we report a facile synthesis technique for the fabrication of superhydrophobic antibacterial fabrics by employing fluorine-free silane coupling agents as cross-linkers for enhanced durability. Three silane cross-linkers, Aminoethylaminopropyltrimethoxysilane (AEAPTMS), Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), and Methacryloyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS), have been investigated. During the fabrication, a low surface energy polymer, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was first deposited on cotton fabrics. Subsequently, antibacterial copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles were anchored on the PDMS coated fabrics using the silane cross-linkers. The as-prepared fabrics displayed high superhydrophobicity and antibacterial performance with water contact angle (WCA) > 153 degrees, water shedding angle (WSA) < 5 degrees, and up to 99% antibacterial efficiency. Additionally, the as-prepared fabrics displayed high durability against abrasion, ultrasonic washing, and soaking in harsh chemical environments. The air permeability and flexibility of the fabric was not compromised after the coating. The above-reported technique is simple, cost-effective and holds tremendous potential for large-scale production of energy-saving clothing and healthcare products.