Multifunctional hybrid functionalization of cellulose fabrics with AgNWs and TiO 2 .

A study on the hybrid functionalization of cotton and viscose fabrics using silver nanowires (AgNWs) colloid and titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) sol prepared in sol-gel technique was carried out. The microwave treatment was applied to change amorphous form of TiO2 to anatase. The photocatalytic activity of both cellulose fabrics was evaluated by decomposition of nicotine using new method on the basis of infrared spectroscopy. The AgNWs/TiO2 modification caused 3 and 4 times (cotton fabric) and 1.8 and 1.5 (viscose fabric) faster decomposition of nicotine under respectively UV and VIS light than for unmodified fabrics. The AgNWs/TiO2 modified cotton showed the surface resistance 1.5×103 Ω and antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria. The same modification method gives various effects for cotton and viscose fabrics. Our study demonstrates that AgNWs/TiO2 modified cotton fabric with protective properties against bacteria can be used as conductive and air purifying materials.