SYNTHESIS OF CARBON NANOTUBE-TITANIA COMPOSITE FOR APPLICATION IN A SELF-CLEANING SELF-STERILIZING DIAPER

A carbon nanotube-titania (CNT-TiO2) composite that coats diapers has been synthesized and tested for the removal of ammonia (self-cleaning test) and Candida albicans fungi (self-sterilizing test), which cause unpleasant odors and candidiasis disease, respectively. The composite was characterized by FTIR, FESEM-EDX, XRD, and UV-Vis DRS. Results of XRD and UV-Vis DRS measurement showed that the CNT-TiO2 composite has a high crystalline and low band gap. The results of the self-cleaning and self-sterilizing tests showed that the optimum composition of the composite was 1-3 wt% of CNT and 97-99 wt% of TiO2. Acid treatment at pH 1 was accompanied by ultrasonic agitation in appropriate conditions for composite synthesis. Within 2 hours of testing, the modified diapers, at the optimum composite composition, can remove ammonia and C. albicans by 91% and 98%, respectively. The experimental results showed that ammonia and fungi on the modified diapers were removed up to the standard minimum values required to prevent odor and diaper rash.