Cotton functionalized with nanostructured TiO2-Ag-AgBr layer for solar photocatalytic degradation of dyes and toxic organophosphates
Résumé
The functionalization of cotton fabric with photoactive TiO2-Ag-AgBr nanostructured layer has been successfully
developed using a lowtemperature non-aqueous sol-gel route and aqueous suspension of AgBr. Evidence for the
growth of TiO2 layer and the immobilization of AgBr nanoparticles have been confirmed by Raman, XRD and XPS.
GSDR analysis revealed a strong absorption in the visible region brought by surface Plasmon resonance (SPR) of
Ag nanocrystals generated at the surface of AgBr. The XPS evidenced the presence of Ag+, Ag0 and bromine, suggesting
that Ag0 formed a shell around the deposited AgBr. The immobilized TiO2-Ag-AgBr heterostructured layer
imparts a strong photocatalytic activity under visible light for the degradation of dyes in aqueous solution aswell
as of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), a chemical warfare agent simulant.
These new catalytically active functionalized fabrics, with self-detoxification properties, have great potential for
application in chemical protective clothes and might offer new opportunities for the design of functional materials
for toxic chemical protection.