Microstructure and hydrophobic properties of silver nanoparticles on amino-functionalised cotton fabric

Abstract

A simple one-step chemical reduction method was employed for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles on 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) modified cotton fabric. The presence of amino-terminated APTMS on cotton fabric was demonstrated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. The resulting silver coating on cotton fabric was characterised by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction. The effects of deposition parameters including concentrations and temperature of the solution on deposition rate of silver coating on amino-functionalised cotton fabric were investigated. Growth morphology of silver coating was discussed. Hydrophobic property of silver nanoparticle coated cotton fabric modified with APTMS was evaluated. The result indicates that modification of APTMS on the surface of cotton fibres leads to increase in the loading efficiency of silver nanoparticles and improves hydrophobic property of cotton fabric with contact angle of 145.8°.

Keywords:

• Silver nanoparticles
• Cotton fabric
• 3-Aminopropyltrimethoxysilane
• Deposition parameter
• Hydrophobic

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 51203099] and the Youth Foundation of Sichuan University, China [grant number YJ2011020].