Projects / Programmes
Ecologically friendly in-situ synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles for the development of protective textiles
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.14.02 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Textile and leather |
Textile chemistry |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T470 |
Technological sciences |
Textiles technology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.05 |
Engineering and Technology |
Materials engineering |
in-situ synthesis, ZnO nanoparticles, plasma, textiles, antimicrobial, UV protection, photo-catalytic self-cleaning
Researchers (16)
Organisations (3)
Abstract
Two new, ecologically friendly methods of forming zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles directly on textile substrates (in-situ synthesis) will be investigated. The textile substrates of choice are cotton and polyester, two mostly used polymers in textile industry. In the first - wet-chemical method, in-situ synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles will be carried out using zinc-containing precursors (Zn chloride, acetate and nitrate) and a biological (phytochemical) reducing agent. The latter will be extracted from food waste (avocado pit and peel, green tea leaves and pomegranate peel) and invasive plant species (leaves and fruit of Staghorn sumac, leaves and rhizome of Japanese knotweed). The conditions such as concentration of entering chemicals, time and temperature of synthesis will be the same in first part of the research. However, the Zn-precursor and reducing agent type will be varied to find the optimal combination for synthesis. After that, the optimisation of wet-chemical in-situ synthesis will be investigated by lowering the concentration of precursor and reducing agent, and finally the time of the synthesis. In order to accomplish the task successfully, we will increase the reactivity of textile substrates, especially the hydrophobic polyester. The reactivity of textiles will be increased by a brief treatment in low-pressure oxygen plasma at low power density, which will allow the neutral gas kinetic temperature to be close to room temperature. Processing plasma parameters (gas pressure, discharge power, treatment time) will be varied to obtain functionality of the textiles that will allow maximum adsorption of chemicals during the synthesis and formation of ZnO nanoparticles on textiles. The knowledge about the behaviour of the textile substrates during plasma treatment will be used to overcome the difficulties in the second, dry-chemical method of in-situ ZnO synthesis. Here, the ZnO nanoparticles on the fibres will be formed in low-pressure plasma systems. The dry textiles impregnated with ZnCl2, will be treated in oxygen plasma to transform the impregnation into ZnO nanoparticles. We will perform the experiments in radiofrequency (RF) and pulsed microwave (MW) plasma reactors, where the textiles will be treated with plasma glow (in RF) or predominantly afterglow (in MW). To gain deeper understanding of gaseous plasma capabilities as synthesis and processing tool, the plasma parameters during in-situ synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles will be analysed using optical emission spectroscopy (OES) and laser-powered catalytic probes (LCP). The success of in-situ synthesised ZnO nanoparticles, chemical and physical changes of modified textiles, and their protective and functional properties will be monitored by standardised and advanced analytical methods such as XPS, SIMS, FTIR, SEM and AFM. Both processes of in-situ synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles represent a completely new approach to textile modification for the development of multi-protective and multifunctional textiles, and provide the possibility of synthesizing other nanoparticles and nano-structures on textiles. Both approaches are crucial in successfully overcoming technological and ecological issues in the field of textile and fibrous-polymer modification processes. The results will enable publication of original scientific papers in top journals with a high impact factor, and at least one patent.
Significance for science
Two completely new eco-friendly methods for in-situ synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles on textiles will be elaborated. One method uses a natural phytochemical reducing agent and the other one uses gaseous plasma for formation of ZnO nanoparticles on cotton and polyester from zinc-containing precursors. Neither of the methods had been reported in scientific literature, so our approach is completely new in textile engineering. There are known syntheses of ZnO nanoparticles by using biological reducing agents, however none of the them were performed directly on the material. Also, there is no report on synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles on the surface of ZnCl2-impregnated fabrics using gaseous plasma or its afterglow. The proposed study on low-temperature oxidation of ZnCl2 thin films using plasma of different parameters will not be important only for the textile sciences but broader- it will be the first report on synergistic effects of UV radiation and plasma radicals on low-temperature oxidation of ZnCl2 thin films to form ZnO nanoparticles. The results will be also crucial in successful overcoming technological and ecological issues in the field of textile and fibrous-polymer modification processes and provide the possibility of synthesizing other nanoparticles and nano-structures on textiles. The results will enable an introduction of contemporary (state-of-the-art) textile modification for a development of highly technological products with multi-protective and multifunctional properties. The possibilities of transferring scientific achievements into practice will be considered as well, which is going to present a contribution of science to the economy, increasing the competitiveness on the European and world markets. Therefore, the research results will be of a great significance for the promotion of Slovenia and the country’s integration in the international research and industrial projects. The project’s results will give a new insight and produce new knowledge in classical wet-chemical and plasma-assisted synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles on textiles. The results of the research will enable the publication of several original scientific papers in top journals with a high impact factor, and will enable submission of at least one patent application.
Significance for the country
Two completely new eco-friendly methods for in-situ synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles on textiles will be elaborated. One method uses a natural phytochemical reducing agent and the other one uses gaseous plasma for formation of ZnO nanoparticles on cotton and polyester from zinc-containing precursors. Neither of the methods had been reported in scientific literature, so our approach is completely new in textile engineering. There are known syntheses of ZnO nanoparticles by using biological reducing agents, however none of the them were performed directly on the material. Also, there is no report on synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles on the surface of ZnCl2-impregnated fabrics using gaseous plasma or its afterglow. The proposed study on low-temperature oxidation of ZnCl2 thin films using plasma of different parameters will not be important only for the textile sciences but broader- it will be the first report on synergistic effects of UV radiation and plasma radicals on low-temperature oxidation of ZnCl2 thin films to form ZnO nanoparticles. The results will be also crucial in successful overcoming technological and ecological issues in the field of textile and fibrous-polymer modification processes and provide the possibility of synthesizing other nanoparticles and nano-structures on textiles. The results will enable an introduction of contemporary (state-of-the-art) textile modification for a development of highly technological products with multi-protective and multifunctional properties. The possibilities of transferring scientific achievements into practice will be considered as well, which is going to present a contribution of science to the economy, increasing the competitiveness on the European and world markets. Therefore, the research results will be of a great significance for the promotion of Slovenia and the country’s integration in the international research and industrial projects. The project’s results will give a new insight and produce new knowledge in classical wet-chemical and plasma-assisted synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles on textiles. The results of the research will enable the publication of several original scientific papers in top journals with a high impact factor, and will enable submission of at least one patent application.
