Imparting cotton textiles glow-in-the-dark property along with other functional properties: photochromism, flame-retardant, water-repellency, and antimicrobial activity

Abstract

Screen-printing and spray-coating methods were used to produce photoluminescent, water-repellent, and antimicrobial films on textile fibers. The cotton fabrics were firstly finished with a flame-resistant agent. There are a number of functional agents that have been applied during the textile finishing process, including strontium aluminate pigment as antibacterial and photoluminescent agent, flame-retardant organophosphate, and water-repellent silicone rubber. The current research investigated the surface morphologies and chemical compositions of the screen-printed and spray-coated fabric cottons using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). According to morphological analysis, the phosphor nanoparticles had sizes ranging from 2 to 12 nm. After excitation at 399 nm, the generated colorless photoluminescent layer deposited onto cotton surface showed an emission profile at 516 nm. The luminescence spectra and CIE Lab characteristics confirmed that the phosphor-coated textiles displayed a white color in visible spectrum and green emission in the presence of UV light. It has been shown by analysis that the tested colors are very stable over time. The measurements of static water contact and sliding angles were also explored. The self-extinguishing activity of the coated fabrics retained their flame-retardant properties over 24 laundry cycles. Antimicrobial activity, hydrophobicity, and luminous properties were improved without affecting the intrinsic physical and mechanical features of the treated textiles. Details on the CIE Lab colorimetric measurements were discussed. The stiffness and air permeability were examined to explore the flexibility and breathability of the treated textile fibers. Excellent reversibility and photostability were seen in the phosphor-coated materials.

Preparation of color‐tunable electrospun cellulose acetate‐polycaprolactone nanofibrous film for information encryption

“…Dy +3 plays a crucial role in inducing the production of hole traps, which are discharged after removing UV illumination supply. These freed electrons are redistributed to Eu +2 , which then returns to its ground status, resulting in light emission 55–61 . The best materials should be easily reversible and resistant to fatigue from repeated exposure to light.…”

“…These freed electrons are redistributed to Eu +2 , which then returns to its ground status, resulting in light emission. [55][56][57][58][59][60][61] The best materials should be easily reversible and resistant to fatigue from repeated exposure to light. In order to ascertain photostability, the emission spectrum profiles were recorded upon exposure to a UV source.…”

Development of photoluminescent viscose fibers integrated with polymer containing lanthanide‐doped phosphor

“…As the LSAO ratio was increased, it was discovered that the aliphatic stretch intensity at 2998 cm −1 decreased. Other absorption peaks were detected at 560, 611, and 673 cm −1 due to lattice vibrations of OSr, OAlO, and OAl, respectively (Ahmed et al, 2023; Alsharief et al, 2022).…”

Preparation of photoluminescent nano‐biocomposite nacre from graphene oxide and polylactic acid

“…Both lifetime and decay time were determined using different phosphorescence accessories. According to a previous procedure [41], UV light (365 nm) was shone on the nacre sample (NLAP 6 ) for 25 or 100 s. Multiple cycles of UV light illumination (25 and 100 s) were used to determine the emission intensity at 517 nm. The material was kept in the dark for 90 min between cycles.…”