Functionalization of cotton fabrics through thermal reduction of graphene oxide

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 393; pp. 441 - 448
• Main Authors: Cai, Guangming, Xu, Zhenglin, Yang, Mengyun, Tang, Bin, Wang, Xungai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 30.01.2017
• Subjects: Conductive fabric; Cotton; Fabrics; Fourier transforms; Functional fiber; Graphene; Graphene oxide; Heat treatment; Infrared spectroscopy; Oxides; Surface modification; Thermal reduction; Ultraviolet; Surface modification; Conductive fabric; Graphene oxide; Functional fiber; Thermal reduction
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2016.10.046

[Display omitted] •Graphene oxide (GO) is in-situ reduced on cotton by heat under nitrogen protection.•The incorporation of reduced GO endowed fabrics with good electrical conductivity.•Repeated bending and washing do not change obviously the electrical conductivity.•The RGO/cotton fabrics show significant UV-blocking and hydrophobic properties. Graphene oxide (GO) was in-situ reduced on cotton fabrics by a simple heat treatment, which endowed cotton fabrics with multi-functions. GO was coated on the surface of cotton fabric through a conventional “dip and dry” approach. Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) was obtained from GO in the presence of cotton by heating under the protection of nitrogen. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were employed to characterize the complexes of RGO and cotton (RGO/cotton). The RGO/cotton fabrics showed good electrical conductivity, surface hydrophobicity and ultraviolet (UV) protection properties. These properties did not deteriorate significantly after repeated fabric bending and washing.