A multi-functional textile that combines self-cleaning, water-proofing and VO2-based temperature-responsive thermoregulating

- Two kinds of textiles based on vanadium dioxide (VO2) for intelligent control of solar energy were prepared.
- These textiles showed excellent thermal control performance and vapor permeability.
- Textile treated with (VO2@TiO2)&TiO2 particles also showed super-hydrophobicity, self-cleaning and better durability.

Two methods were developed by using poly dopamine (PDA) or TiO2 to integrate vanadium dioxide to textile fibers. Compared with current thermoregulating textiles using solid-liquid phase change materials (PCMs), vanadium dioxide (VO2) textiles possess longer service life, no leakage and can control solar radiation continuously with changed temperatures. Through a series of equipment characterization with such as X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and tests for laundering durability, abrasion, dirt removal, thermal regulating, vapor permeability and self-cleaning performance, two kinds of VO2 textiles with excellent thermal control performance (low-power light irradiation had no obvious effects on temperature decrease; high-power irradiation could lower the temperature of about 17 °C) and vapor permeability were comprehensively maintained. In addition, textile treated with (VO2@TiO2)&TiO2 multi-scale hybrid particles (VTT textile) showed super-hydrophobicity (static water contact angle was about 150°), self-cleaning properties and improved durability.