Novel infrared stealth property of cotton fabrics coated with nano ZnO: (Al, La) particles

•Al, La doped ZnO were prepared through sol–gel method.•ZnO: (Al, La) was coated on cotton fabric to reduce infrared emissivity of the fabric.•The hand coved by the coated fabric gave as low thermal radiation as the environment.

Al, La doped ZnO nano particles were prepared through sol–gel method. The prepared ZnO: (Al, La) was coated on cotton fabric, forming a thin film to reduce infrared emissivity of the cotton fabric. Effects of Al contents on microstructure, infrared emissivity and infrared stealth of ZnO: (Al, La) coated fabrics were investigated by XRD, SEM, ICP, IR_2 dual-band emissivity measuring instrument and the infrared camera instrument. The addition of Al and La was favorable for providing more free electrons, improving scattering of infrared photon, and decreasing the infrared emissivity of ZnO: (Al, La) coated fabric in the range of 8–14 μm wavelengths. The hand covered by the coated fabric gave as low thermal radiation as the environment.