Enhancement of photocatalytic self-cleaning activity and antimicrobial properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate) fabrics

Fabrics with additional surface functions like self-cleaning, UV-protection or antimicrobial properties are highly desirable. TiO2 nanoparticles and composite nanoparticles consisting of AgI/AgCl/TiO2 were prepared. The particles were immobilized on PET fabric. The resulting materials showed proper photocatalytic self-cleaning activity measured by photochemical destruction of methylene blue and antimicrobial properties measured against Escherichia coli (E. coli). All properties of the PET bearing the AgI/AgCl/TiO2 nanocomposite particles are superior compared to the materials bearing the pure anatase nanoparticles.

► TiO2 NPs and AgI/AgCl/TiO2 nanocomposite were synthesized.
► These particles were immobilized on PET fabric.
► AgI/AgCl/TiO2 nanocomposite displays good visible-light absorption.
► AgI/AgCl/TiO2 nanocomposite showed improvement in self-cleaning activity than TiO2.
► AgI/AgCl/TiO2 nanocomposite showed improvement in antimicrobial activity than TiO2.