Antibacterial, Antiviral, and Self-Cleaning Mats with Sensing Capabilities Based on Electrospun Nanofibers Decorated with ZnO Nanorods and Ag Nanoparticles for Protective Clothing Applications

Karagoz S., Burak Kiremitler N. B., Sarp G., Pekdemir S., Salem S., Goksu A., ...More

ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES, vol.13, no.4, pp.5678-5690, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 13 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1021/acsami.0c15606
  • Journal Name: ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
  • Page Numbers: pp.5678-5690
  • Keywords: protective clothing, electrospun nanofibers, ZnO nanorods, silver nanoparticles, photocatalytic degradation, antiviral activity, antibacterial activity, SERS, PHOTOCATALYTIC ACTIVITY, ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES, VISIBLE-LIGHT, WASTE-WATER, ALIGNMENT, PHENOLS, ZINC, NANOSTRUCTURES, NITROPHENOLS, ANTIBIOTICS
  • Erciyes University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown the importance of developments in fabrication of advanced protective equipment. This study investigates the potential of using multifunctional electrospun poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanofibers decorated with ZnO nanorods and Ag nanoparticles (PMMA/ZnO-Ag NFs) in protective mats. Herein, the PMMA/ZnO-Ag NFs with an average diameter of 450 nm were simply prepared on a nonwoven fabric by directly electrospinning from solutions containing PMMA, ZnO nanorods, and Ag nanoparticles. The novel material showed high performance with four functionalities (i) antibacterial agent for killing of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, (ii) antiviral agent for inhibition of corona and influenza viruses, (iii) photocatalyst for degradation of organic pollutants, enabling a self-cleaning protective mat, and (iv) reusable surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrate for quantitative analysis of trace pollutants on the nanofiber. This multi-functional material has high potential for use in protective clothing applications by providing passive and active protection pathways together with sensing capabilities.