Developing a Multifunctional Silk Fabric with Dual-Driven Heating and Rapid Photothermal Antibacterial Abilities Using High-Yield MXene Dispersions

Two-dimensional material titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx MXene) has been widely used for building diverse functional materials; however, the disadvantages of unsatisfactory yield and low concentration during the preparation process generally limit its large-scale promotion. In the present work, an MXene dispersion with enhanced yield (90%), high concentration (45 mg/mL), and excellent dispersibility was successfully prepared. Subsequently, the active MXene nanosheets were effectively in situ deposition onto the silk fiber by means of dip-coating, relying on van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds. The obtained MXene-decorated silk fabric (MXene@silk) exhibits satisfactory electrical conductivity (170 mS/cm), excellent photothermal and electro-thermal conversion properties, especially dual-drive energy conversion, rapid thermal responses, and long-term functional stability. Furthermore, UV protection factor of the fabric, and its antibacterial efficiency against Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) within 20 min of contact reach over 110 and 99%, respectively, demonstrating remarkable UV resistance and rapid photothermal antibacterial ability. Meanwhile, the fabric of MXene@silk still retains the original characteristics of breathability, softness, and skin-friendly properties compared to the untreated. The multifunctional fabric constructed through a facile and high-yield strategy shows a noticeable potential applying to smart textiles to meet people's multipurpose needs in the future.