Sonosynthesis of nano TiO2 on wool using titanium isopropoxide or butoxide in acidic media producing multifunctional fabric

• Introducing a novel in situ sonosynthesis method for nanocrystalline TiO2 on wool.
• Possessing significant antibacterial/antifungal and self-cleaning properties.
• Low cytotoxicity, alkaline solubility and photoyellowing with higher tensile strength and hydrophilicity.
• Obtaining better results with TTIB comparing with TTIP due to self-doping.
• Optimizing processing conditions using response surface methodology.

This study presents a novel idea to prepare nanocrystalline structure of TiO2 under ambient pressure at 60–65 °C using in situ sonochemical synthesis by hydrolysis of either titanium isopropoxide or titanium butoxide in an acidic aqueous solution. The nano titanium dioxide coated wool fabrics possess significant antibacterial/antifungal activity and self-cleaning property by discoloring Methylene blue stain under sunlight irradiation. This process has no negative effect on cytotoxicity and tensile strength of the sonotreated fabric even reduces alkaline solubility and photoyellowing and improves hydrophilicity. More titanium isopropoxide or titanium butoxide as a precursor led to higher photocatalytic activities of the treated fabrics. Also introducing more ethanol improved the adsorption of TiO2 on the wool fabric surface leading to enhanced photocatalytic activity. EDS and XRD patterns, SEM images, X-ray mapping confirmed the presence of nano TiO2 particles on the fabric surface. The role of both solvent and precursor concentrations on the various properties of the fabric was investigated and the optimized conditions were obtained using response surface methodology.

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