Utilizing TiO2 photocatalysis and natural SiO2 superhydrophilicity synergy to improve self-cleaning activity in cotton fabric

This study aims to explore the function of hydrophilic features of natural SiO2 in supporting the TiO2 photocatalysis process for developing cot-ton fabric with high self-cleaning performance. SiO(2 )was produced by extracting natural materials such as Bengkulu beach sand with a high SiO2 content. The method used is dip-coating in its sol form with the help of ultrasonic waves to maximize the compos-ite loading on the fabric. TiO2/SiO2 composite sols were synthesized at three distinct molar ratios, 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2. The self-cleaning activity was observed against methylene blue using the digital image color-imetry technique. SEM images reveal agglomerated TiO2 and SiO2 particles attached to the cotton fab-ric fibers with an average size of 14 nm. The FTIR investigations also demonstrate the existence of Ti -O - C and Si - O - C bonds, indicating TiO2 and SiO2 particles' interaction with cotton fabric fibers. Contact angle measurements show that cotton fabric with TiO2 increases hydrophilicity to 17.8 degrees , whereas cotton fabric with SiO2 has a superhydrophilic surface (0 degrees ). This observation is consistent with the FTIR data, in which the O - H stretching band develops following the addition of TiO2 sol and is more obvi-ous in samples containing SiO2. The O-H stretch-ing band appears after adding TiO2 sol and is more pronounced in samples containing SiO2 The charac-terization results showed that TiO2/SiO2 composites were successfully added to cotton fabrics. Cotton fab-rics with a ratio of TiO2/SiO2 (1:1) showed the best self-cleaning activity against methylene blue, reach-ing 95.25%. Modified cotton fabrics also showed par-ticle adhesion stability with a slight decrease in self-cleaning activity.