Producing colored cotton fabrics with functional properties by combining silver nanoparticles with nano titanium dioxide

In this study, functional cotton fabrics were prepared by applying titania as a photocatalyst and using silver nanoparticles as both a novel class of colorant for coloration and an agent capable of modifying the TiO₂ nanoparticles. Silver colloids with different colors were primarily synthesized through reduction of silver nitrate and then coloration of cotton fabrics and synthesis of Ag/TiO₂ nanocomposite on fabric surface was performed by adding titanium dioxide nanoparticles (P25) in an ultrasonic bath. The treated cotton fabrics were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and UV–Vis reflectance spectroscopy. The color effect, self-cleaning property, antibacterial efficiency, ultraviolet (UV) blocking activity and hydrophobicity of the samples were also studied. The results indicated that all properties of the treated cotton fabric with Ag/TiO₂ nanocomposite were superior compared to the treated sample with TiO₂ alone. Moreover, the photocatalytic activity of titanium dioxide has no negative effect on fabric color and the color variation of treated fabric after UV irradiation was negligible.