Facile two-step functionalization of multifunctional superhydrophobic cotton fabric for UV-blocking, self cleaning, antibacterial, and oil-water separation

Durable and multifunctional superhydrophobic cotton fabric is highly desired in the modern textile market. However, bottlenecks are the difficult functionalization of desired molecules on hydrophilic cotton fabric and achieving sustainable multifunctional characteristics. Herein, a facile two-step method is proposed to prepare multifunctional superhydrophobic coating on cotton fabric (TiO2-APTES-cotton fabrics). Titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles are anchored at a pristine cotton fabric surface using a fluorine-free aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) coupling agent through an immersion method. The fabric is made hydrophobic by treating it with a 1 % myristic acid (MA) solution via a dip and dry method. Surface morphology, functionalization, surface area, phase, and anti-wetting properties of modified cotton fabric are characterized by SEM, TEM, EDS, FTIR, BET, XRD, XPS, AFM, and optical contact angle measurements. MA-TiO2-APTES-cotton fabric exhibits good mechanical, chemical, and thermal stability, determined by abrasion test, splash test, and washing durability. TiO2 nanoparticles on MA-TiO2-APTES-cotton fabric impart self-cleaning, antifouling, antibacterial, anti-stain, and UV-blocking properties. Myristic acid with long-chain fatty acids reduces the surface energy of cotton fabric, increases the contact angle to 155° ±1, and reduces the tilting angle to 6° ±1. In addition, it is utilized for oil–water separation. The modified superhydrophobic cotton fabric presents good separation efficiency against various oils, such as n-hexane, chloroform, petroleum, toluene, and dichloromethane, with exceptional reusability. This newly designed two-step functionalization approach is simple, cost-effective, green, and shows promise for potential commercial-scale applications.