Immobilizing CuO/BiVO4 nanocomposite on PDA-templated cotton fabric for visible light photocatalysis, antimicrobial activity and UV protection

CuO/BiVO4 (BVO) nanocomposite photocatalyst was immobilized on cotton fabrics through polydopamine (PDA) templating for multiple application including highly efficient visible-light-driven photocatalysis, antimicrobial activity and UV protection. The morphology and structure of CuO/BVO nanocomposites and the coated fabrics were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), Ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectra (UV–vis DRS), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The functionalized cotton fabrics were found to be highly effective in degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation with stability and recyclability, and about 97.7% of MB aqueous solution was degraded after 200 min exposure with 92.1% of the photocatalytic activity preserved even after five recycles. The mechanism of enhanced photocatalytic activity was proposed. The coated fabrics also demonstrated to be UV protective and antimicrobial. This work will benefit the development of durable and recyclable textile based photocatalysts with multiple function.