Razvoj večfunkcionalne viskozne tkanine z uporabo hitozana, reduciranega grafen oksida in TiO2 za doseganje UV-zaščite, samočistilnosti in protimikrobne aktivnosti

Močenik, Klara (author), Tomšič, Brigita (mentor), Fink, Rok (comentor)

V magistrskem delu je bil razvit postopek kemijske modifikacije viskozne tkanine s kombinacijo titanovega dioksida (TiO2), reduciranega grafen oksida (rGO) in hitozana za doseganje večfunkcionalnih UV-zaščitnih, samočistilnih in protimikrobnih lastnosti. Proučen je bil tudi vpliv zaporedja nanosa komponent na morfološke, kemijske in funkcionalne lastnosti tkanine ter obstojnost nanosa po pranju. Modelna viskozna tkanina je bila funkcionalizirana z dvofaznim impregnirnim postopkom: v prvi fazi z raztopino titanovega(IV) izopropoksida (TTIP) kot prekurzorja za in situ sintezo TiO2, v drugi fazi pa z disperzijo hitozana z dodatkom rGO in obratno. Postopek je vključeval impregniranje, ožemanje, sušenje, kondenziranje in hidrotermično obdelavo. Karakterizacija modificiranih vzorcev je bila izvedena z vrstično elektronsko mikroskopijo (SEM), energijsko disperzijsko spektroskopijo (EDS), infrardečo spektroskopijo s Fourierjevo transformacijo (FT-IR) ter spektrofotometrijo UV/VIS. Fotokatalitska samočistilna aktivnost je bila ovrednotena z razgradnjo barvila Rhodamine B (RhB), protimikrobna aktivnost pa proti bakterijama Escherichia coli in Staphylococcus aureus. Rezultati so pokazali, da vrsta in zaporedje nanosa pomembno vplivata na morfologijo vlaken: TiO2, sintetiziran in situ iz TTIP, je povečal hrapavost površine in mestoma povzročil razpoke, medtem ko je hitozan (z ali brez rGO) tvoril enakomeren in zvezni film. Pri dvofaznih postopkih končno morfologijo v večji meri določa komponenta, nanesena v drugi fazi. FTIR analiza je potrdila prisotnost vseh komponent ter učinkovito prekritost površine vlaken, zaporedje nanosa pa je vplivalo na zamreženje hitozana in interakcije TiO2 v polimerni matrici. Največja stopnja zamreženja je bila dosežena, ko je bil TTIP nanesen v prvi fazi, hitozan-rGO pa v drugi. Kemijska modifikacija je nekoliko izboljšala UV-zaščito, pri čemer so trikomponentni kompoziti zaradi prisotnosti hitozana in rGO izkazali nižjo zaščito kot sam TiO2. Vsi vzorci so dosegli visoko stopnjo razbarvanja barvila RhB (92–98 %), pri čemer je bila učinkovitost večja, če je bil TTIP nanešen v drugi fazi, kot v primeru, če je bil nanešen v prvi fazi. Rezultati razgradnje RhB so pokazali, da samočistilnost trikomponentnih kompozitov temelji pretežno na tvorbi superoksidnih radikalov, pri čemer rGO izboljša prenos naboja in generiranje reaktivnih kisikovih zvrsti (ROS). Trikomponentni kompoziti so izkazali visoko protibakterijsko učinkovitost, pri čemer je bila stabilnejša in bolj ohranjena fotokatalitska in protibakterijska aktivnost po pranju v kompozitu, kjer je bil TTIP nanesen v prvi fazi, hitozan in rGO pa v drugi fazi.

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: funkcionalizacija tekstilij, viskozna tkanina, titanov dioksid, reduciran grafen oksid, fotokatalitska samočistilnost, protimikrobna aktivnost
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Organization: NTF - Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering
• Year: 2026
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-182102
• Publication date in RUL: 24.04.2026

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: Development of multifunctional viscose fabric using chitosan, reduced graphene oxide, and TiO2 for UV protection, self-cleaning, and antimicrobial activity

Abstract

In the master’s thesis, a chemical modification process for viscose fabric was developed using a combination of titanium dioxide (TiO2), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and chitosan to achieve multifunctional UV-protective, self-cleaning, and antimicrobial properties. The influence of the deposition sequence of the individual components on the morphological, chemical, and functional properties of the fabric, as well as on the washing durability of the coating, was also investigated. A model viscose fabric was functionalised by a two-step impregnation process: first with a titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) solution for the in situ synthesis of TiO2, and second with a chitosan dispersion containing rGO, and vice versa. The process included impregnation, padding, drying, condensation, and hydrothermal treatment. The modified samples were characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV–Vis spectrophotometry. Photocatalytic self-cleaning activity was evaluated by the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB), while antimicrobial activity was assessed against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed that both the type and sequence of deposition significantly affected fibre morphology. TiO2 deposited from TTIP increased surface roughness and locally caused cracks, whereas chitosan (with or without rGO) formed a uniform and continuous film. In two-step processes, the final morphology was mainly determined by the component applied in the second step. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of all components and effective fibre surface coverage, while the deposition sequence influenced chitosan crosslinking and the interactions of TiO2 within the polymer matrix. The most effective crosslinking was achieved when TTIP was applied first, followed by chitosan–rGO. Chemical modification slightly improved UV protection; however, the three-component composites exhibited lower protection values due to the presence of chitosan/rGO. All samples showed high RhB decolourisation efficiency (92–98%), with photocatalytic performance increasing in the order: CV_TiO2/Ch-rGO < CV_TiO2 < CV_Ch-rGO/TiO2. The degradation results indicated that the self-cleaning activity was predominantly driven by superoxide radicals, while rGO enhanced charge transfer and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The three-component composites also demonstrated high antibacterial efficiency. Greater washing stability was observed for the composite in which TiO2 from TTIP was applied in the first step, followed by chitosan–rGO in the second step.

• Keywords: textile functionalization, viscose fabric, titanium dioxide, reduced graphene oxide, photocatalytic self-cleaning, antimicrobial activity