Dual Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Treatments for Synthesis of Ag-TiO2 Functionalized Polypropylene Fabrics

The immobilization of Ag-TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) on polymer fabrics creates many additional functions for conventional fabrics such as water purification, self-cleaning, UV blocking, and antibacterial properties and has been of increasing interest to researchers. However, it is difficult to load functional NPs on some fabrics with low surface energy; therefore, an environmentally friendly and effective technology is urgently needed to address this problem. In this work, dual dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma treatment was applied to synthesis of Ag-TiO2 functionalized polypropylene (PP) fabrics for the first time. Compared with other methods of loading Ag NPs on the fiber cloth substrates such as chemical reduction, UV reduction, and melt mixing, the technique utilized in this work has the characteristics of being environmentally friendly, of high efficiency, of firm loading, and of being economical. Air DBD plasma treatment was applied to introduce polar groups onto PP fiber surfaces for the subsequent hydrothermal reaction to load TiO2 NPs on the PP fabric surface. Ag NPs with the desired particle size and homogeneous distribution were then in situ reduced by H-2 DBD plasma treatment. The corresponding experimental mechanisms are also discussed.