Durable superamphiphobic cotton fabrics with improved ultraviolet radiation resistance and photocatalysis

Durable superamphiphobic cotton fabrics with improved ultraviolet (UV) radiation resistance and photocatalysis were prepared by simultaneous introduction of fluorine-modified CuS/SiO2 aerogel particles and adhesive polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The fluorine-modified CuS/SiO2 aerogel particles and PDMS were used to obtain elastomeric nanocomposite coating which was applied to coat cotton fabrics via a dip-coating method. The coated cotton fabrics were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results showed that fluorine-modified CuS/SiO2 aerogel particles and PDMS adhesive layer were successfully coated onto the cotton fabric. The prepared cotton fabric showed excellent superamphiphobicity with a water contact angle of 157.6°± 1.1° and an oil contact angle of 153.1°± 1.2°, respectively. The coated cotton fabric was also proved to possess high anti-ultraviolet radiation property with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of about 180.67 and good photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, the prepared superamphiphobic fabric exhibited good durability against abrasion, laundering and UV irradiation. The superamphiphobic coating showed no negative effect on fabric stiffness of the coated cotton fabric. This multifunctional cotton fabric may pave a potential way for broad applications.