Self-cleaning TiO2 nanoparticle-coated PET fabrics: hydrophobicity and photocatalytic performance

In this study, PET fabric surfaces were modified with TiO2 nanoparticles, synthesized through the one-step hydrolysis of TiCl4. The fabrics were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Water contact angles (WCA) of both pure PET and TiO2-coated PET fabrics were measured, revealing that hydrophobicity increased as the TiO2 concentration increased. The photocatalytic performance of the modified fabrics was assessed by studying the degradation of Crystal Violet (CV) dye under UVA irradiation. To further quantify photocatalytic activity, the Apparent Quantum Yield (AQY) values were calculated based on dye degradation and photon flux under UVA light (365 nm, 0.098 W/cm2). AQY values ranged from 0.24% to 0.99%, depending on TiO2 loading and initial dye concentration. Reactive species trapping experiments were conducted to propose a mechanism for the photodegradation of CV on TiO2-coated PET fabric. The degradation followed second-order kinetics. A mechanism for the photodegradation process under UVA light was also proposed. In conclusion, this study offers valuable insights into producing self-cleaning, hydrophobic, and photocatalytically active TiO2-coated PET fabrics, contributing to the development of functional textiles for various applications. © 2025 The Textile Institute.