Improving Adhesion of Graphene Nanoplatelets to Cotton-Based Knitted Fabrics Using Plasma Treatment

Abstract

This work aims to analyse the effect of plasma and alkaline pre-treatment to improve the adsorption of GNPs onto 100% cotton knits. For this purpose, in one approach, 2% GNPs were dispersed in an aqueous/ethyl-based solution, in another approach the same concentration of said nanoparticles were dispersed in different % of PEG (10%, 30% and 50%, w/ v). The functionalised samples with and without plasma pre-treatment were characterized by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Contact Angle, Ground State Diffuse Reflectance (GSDR), and Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Electrical and washability properties until 10th wash cycles were also evaluated. The dopped samples obtained semiconductor values, and the ones that received the plasma treatment became hydrophilic, which contributed to excellent absorption bands. However, it is necessary to carry out more in-depth studies that contribute not only to better adsorption, as well as an adequate anchoring of nanoparticles in textile substrates.