An ultrasonication approach was adopted for Azadirachta indica driven bioconversion of silver salt into silver nanoparticle (AgNPs). These nanoparticles were coated over plasma functionalized cotton by using a pad dry cure technique. For pre‐coat surface functionalization, the cotton fabric was exposed to an open air single dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). The emission spectrum revealed that DBD consisted of NO, O3, O, O2+
, O+, OH−, N2 and N2+
species. The plasma treatment produced negative radicals on the surface and improved the adhesion of fabric for nanoparticles. The crystallographic analysis revealed cubical structure of nanoparticles with average size of 25 nm. The fabric got fully covered with AgNPs after five pad‐dry cycles. Nanoparticles together with neem extract promoted the antimicrobial activity of the coated fabric. The inhibition zone of the silver coated fabric against E.Coli strains increased from 6 mm to 14 mm. The conductivity of fabric after 3, 5 and 7 cycles remained 2.56×
10−2, 2.63×
10−2 and 2.67×
10−2 Siemens/cm, respectively. The coated fabric showed UV protection factor in the range of 210–269. The transmittance of UV−A radiations and UV−B radiations from the uncoated fabric was 19.27 % and 7.84 %, respectively, which reduced to 0.76 % and 0.24 % after 7 pad dry cycles.
This study is focused on influence of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma on surface functionality and coating properties of cotton fabric ultrasonically coated with zinc oxide nanoparticles. Zinc ions were reduced to zinc oxide with Aloe vera leaf extraction and simultaneously coated over plasma-functionalized fabric in an ultrasonic bath. The pad dry method was used for multiple coating cycles. The electron temperature in DBD zone was measured about 1.34 eV. The emission spectrum of DBD revealed the formation of OH − , N 2 , O, O 3 , NO, N + 2 , O + 2 and O + radicals in the discharge zone. The coated fabric was tested for its resistance to the growth of E. coli bacteria, which determines its applications in medical products. The electrical conductivity of fabrics after 2, 4 and 6 pad dry cycles was 2.56 × 10 -2 , 2.61 × 10 -2 , and 2.69 × 10 -2 Siemens/ cm, respectively. The increased conductivity of fabric on coating suggests the growth of a UV protective layer of ZnO nanoparticles on the surface of the fabric. The transmittance of UV-A radiations from blank and ZnO-coated fabrics was measured about 18.42% and 0.89%, respectively. Similarly, UV-B transmittance from blank and ZnO-coated fabrics was measured about 8.41% and 0.29%, respectively. The low UV transmittance and high UV protection factor reveal high practical value of ZnO-coated fabrics.
Dielectric barrier discharges (DBD) are the configurations for the production of electrical discharges using a dielectric medium between the metallic electrodes. Plasma treatment produces negative radicals, which increase the adhesion of fabric for nanoparticles. The plasma treatment made the fabric surface rougher because of the etching effect. UV-vis spectra of the Plasmon resonance band observed at 253-400 nm. X-ray diffraction results showed that AgNPs has a cubical structure and the average crystalline size is 25 nm. SEM results determined that the morphology of the silver nanoparticles are flower shaped. The energy bandgap of AgNPs was observed at 2.59 eV. The silver nanoparticles were found to have enhanced antimicrobial properties and showed better zone of inhibition against isolated bacteria (Escherichia coli). DBD plasma treatment changed the chemical as well as physical properties of the cotton fabric. FTIR spectrum revealed that oxygen-containing groups, such as C-O, C=O, O-C-O, as well as O-C=O, increased on DBD treatment of cotton samples.
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