A novel approach of developing sustainable cellulose coating for self-cleaning-healing fabric

Abstract Lately, self-cleaning fabrics have attracted immense attention for their greater functionality and unique self-cleaning ability against contaminations. Typically, a self-cleaning fabric possesses superhydrophobic surface. Unfortunately, till date majority of the superhydrophobic surfaces are created by utilizing fluorinated compounds or carbon/inorganic nanoparticles knowing their adverse effects on human health and environment. Therefore, this article presents a simple methodology for developing a novel sustainable superhydrophobic coating with the aim to produce self-cleaning and healing fabrics. The coating was developed using cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) as the raw material. When applied this coating on various fabrics (cotton and polyester), they became superhydrophobic with WCA of 152-156°(±3), thereby most liquid droplets rolled like round balls on the surfaces, leading to form self-cleaning fabrics. Moreover, the coated fabrics can quickly restore the self-healing property upon heating.