Multifunctional Flax Fibres Based on the Combined Effect of Silver and Zinc Oxide (Ag/ZnO) Nanostructures

Abstract

Cellulosic fibre-based smart materials exhibiting multiple capabilities are getting tremendous attention due to their wide application areas. In this work, multifunctional flax fabrics with piezoresistive response were developed through the combined functionalization with silver (Ag) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs). Biodegradable polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used to produce AgNPs, whereas ZnONPs were synthetized via a simple and low-cost method. Flax fabrics with and without NPs were characterized by Ground State Diffuse Reflectance (GSDR), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). After creating a conductive surface by flax functionalization with AgNPs, ZnONPs were synthetized onto these fabrics. The developed fibrous systems exhibited piezoresistive response and the sensor sensitivity increased with the use of higher ZnO precursor concentrations (0.4 M). Functionalized fabrics exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria, higher hydrophobicity (WCA changed from 00 to >1000), UV radiation resistance, and wash durability. Overall, this work provides new insights regarding the bifunctionalization of flax fabrics with Ag/ZnO nanostructures and brings new findings about the combined effect of both NPs for the development of piezoresistive textile sensors with multifunctional properties.

Production, extraction and characterization of Chlorella vulgaris soluble polysaccharides and their applications in AgNPs biosynthesis and biostimulation of plant growth

“…The spectrum shows the presence of a peak at 1382 cm −1 which is attributed to the O-H symmetrical stretching 59 . The absorption peak at 1285 cm −1 is attributed to C-O, bending vibration 60 and the peak exists at 1085 cm −1 could be related to C-O stretching 61 and also the peak exists at 1026 cm −1 was due to C-O stretch vibration 62 . Additionally, the peak at 933 cm −1 was assigned to the vibration of C-O-C ring deoxyribose 53 and the peak observed at 889 cm −1 was attributed to the RR′CCH 2 group 63 .…”

Zinc Oxide for Functional Textile Coatings: Recent Advances

“…Since this property is strongly dependent on structure and morphology, only ZnO grown on textile substrates in the form of a one-dimensional wurtzite nanocrystal structure, such as nanorods (NRs) and nanowires (NWs), can create a transparent conductive network with excellent electrical conductivity, low sheet resistance, and mechanical flexibility (Figure 12) [98,[146][147][148][149]. To synthesize the ZnO NR array layer in situ on the surface of textile fibers, solvothermal [89], hydrothermal [98], ultrasonic irradiation [10], sol-gel [90,95], spin-coating [150], electro-deposition [9,111], and atomic layer deposition [93] methods were recently used. piezoelectric and semiconducting properties of the ZnO NRs enabled the textile substrates to harvest mechanical energy from human bodies and act as the mechanical sensing and monitoring devices ( Figure 13).…”

“…To this end, ZnO-benzene-1,4-diol superlattice coatings were deposited on a cotton surface with a predeposited aluminum oxide seed layer [93]; a cotton surface was coated with Sb-ZnO or Ag-ZnO nanocomposites [89]; keratin/polylactic acid fibers were coated with ZnOgraphene quantum dots [150]; ZnO NRs were synthesized in situ on the surface of Ag-coated flax To enhance the electrical conductivity, appropriate external dopants were also used in combination with ZnO. To this end, ZnO-benzene-1,4-diol superlattice coatings were deposited on a cotton surface with a predeposited aluminum oxide seed layer [93]; a cotton surface was coated with Sb-ZnO or Ag-ZnO nanocomposites [89]; keratin/polylactic acid fibers were coated with ZnO-graphene quantum dots [150]; ZnO NRs were synthesized in situ on the surface of Ag-coated flax [95] and polyamide [98] fabrics; ZnO NRs were grown in situ on reduced graphene oxide [111] and gold [9] layers previously prepared on silk fabrics; finally, Mn-doped porous dodecahedral or star-shaped ZnO was applied to decorate carbon nanofibers [151]. To provide simultaneous electrical conductivity and hydrophobicity to cotton fibers, ZnO was applied in combination with tetradecanoic acid [81].…”

Superhydrophobic cotton fabrics based on ZnO nanoparticles functionalization

“…In the last few years, the innovation on fiber-based smart materials has increased substantiality. These materials, that are capable to respond and to adapt to external stimuli, can be applied in different areas such as healthcare, sports, electronics, military and aerospace [2][3][4]. The search for materials with superhydrophobic surfaces has become the center of attention to many research projects where, by mimicking nature organisms such as lotus leaves, butterfly and insect wings, superhydrophobic surfaces are obtained [5][6][7][8].…”