Multifunctional PES fabrics modified with colloidal Ag and TiO2 nanoparticles

This study is aimed to highlight the possibility of engineering the multifunctional textile nanocomposite material based on the polyester (PES) fabric modified with colloidal Ag and TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). The effects of concentration of NPs as well as the order of Ag and TiO2 NPs loading on antimicrobial, UV protective, and photocatalytic properties of PES fabrics were examined. The antimicrobial activity of differently modified PES fabrics was tested against Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli, Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, and fungus Candida albicans. The concentration of Ag colloid and the order of Ag and TiO2 NPs loading considerably affected the antimicrobial efficiency of PES fabrics. The fabrics provided maximum UV protection upon surface modification with Ag and TiO2 NPs. Ag NPs enhanced Ag NPs enhanced the photodegradation activity of TiO2 NPs and total photodegradation of methylene blue was achieved after 24 hr of UV illumination. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.