Copper nanoparticles on bleached cotton fabric: in situ synthesis and characterization

Here, a simple and inexpensive in situ synthesis of copper nanoparticles on cotton fabric is carried out by using a chemical reduction method. Copper sulfate as a precursor, citric acid as a stabilizing and protective agent against aggregation and oxidation of nanoparticles, and sodium hypophosphite as a reducing agent were used. The treated cotton fabric was characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The hydrophobicity, mechanical properties, and antibacterial efficiency of the samples were also studied. The excellent antibacterial behavior of fabrics containing copper nanoparticles even after 30 washing cycles confirms their potential for use in textile and medical products and demonstrates the high stability of the nanotreated fabric. Also, the nanocopper-treated fabrics indicated reasonable hydrophobicity.