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.