In Situ Synthesis and Characterization of Nano ZnO on Wool: Influence of Nano Photo Reactor on Wool Properties

• Published in: Photochemistry and photobiology Vol. 89; no. 5; pp. 1057 - 1063
• Main Authors: Montazer, Majid, Amiri, Morteza Maali, Mohammad Ali Malek, Reza
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2013
• Subjects: Chemical synthesis; Diffraction; Nanocomposites; Proteins; Wool; Zinc oxides
• ISSN: 0031-8655; 1751-1097
• DOI: 10.1111/php.12090

This study has been carried out to synthesize nano ZnO on wool fabric and also to investigate influences of nano photo reactors on wool fabric characteristics. Zinc acetate has been used as a precursor and the synthesis process has been done in water and water/ethanol media. The treated wool fabrics were heated at 80°C for 10 h to dehydrate Zn(OH)2 obtaining ZnO. The fabric samples were then subjected to daylight for 7 days to examine the influence of nano ZnO photo reactor on the fabric properties. SEM images revealed the embedding of ZnO nanoparticles on the fabrics and X‐ray diffraction verified the nanoparticles composition. The Yellowness Index (YI) of the fabrics was measured with Color Eye XTH that has been reduced with increasing pH, Zn(CH3COO)2 concentration, ethanol and heating. The lower water contact angle and time of water absorption confirmed higher hydrophilic properties of the treated fabrics. Interestingly, a higher tensile strength obtained on the wool fabrics proved the interaction of ZnO with protein chains of wool, which was verified through lower alkali solubility of treated fabric with nano ZnO and confirmed more benefits of the in situ synthesis process. The main purpose of this work was to synthesize ZnO nano particles within the wool fabric. To do this, the pretreated wool fabric with protease was immersed in the solution of Zn(CH3COO)2, NH3 and Na(OH) as precursor and distilled water or water/ethanol mixture as the reaction environment. The samples were then subjected to daylight for 7 days. The reactive oxygen species produced as a result of photocatalytic activities of nano ZnO, which have potential of decomposing impurities of wool fibers including the natural pigments and waxes. This leads to the hydrophilic and roughly white wool fabric surface.