Function improvement of wool fabric based on surface assembly of silica and silver nanoparticles

New multifunctional properties of wool fabrics were achieved through combining silica and silver nanoparticles on the surface of fibres. The modified wool fabrics support bright colours due to the localised surface plasmon resonance of silver nanoparticles. Silica nanoparticles were first assembled on the wool fibres, and then silver nanoparticles were adsorbed on the fibre. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterise the surface features of the treated wool fabrics. The results indicated that the silica nanoparticles and the silver nanoparticles were combined together on wool fibres. The existence of silica nanoparticles on the fibres enhanced the colour of the modified wool fabrics and produced super-hydrophilic property in wool fibres. Moreover, the wool fabrics with silica and silver nanoparticles showed obvious antibacterial activity because of the presence of the silver nanoparticles.

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► Silica nanoparticles and silver nanoparticles are assembled together on wool fibres.
► Multifunction of wool fibres is developed.
► Colours of the modified wool fabrics from silver nanoparticles are enhanced.
► Treated wool fabrics exhibit hydrophilic and distinct antibacterial properties.