Metal nanoparticle enhanced semiconductor film for functionalized textiles

Abstract

A method for forming superior and stable metallic nanoparticle and semiconductor coated fiber materials is provided. The method can include the steps of coating at least one surface of a material, for example a textile material, with a semiconducting layer, and growing metallic nanoparticles directly on the semiconducting layer. The steps for coating the surface of the material with a semiconducting layer can include forming a titanium dioxide film on the surface of the textile material, immersing the coated textile layer in a metallic nanoparticle precursor solution, drying the coated textile layer and exposing the textile layer to UV radiation. The metallic nanoparticles can include gold and/or silver nanoparticles. Also disclosed are materials resistant to microbes, including bacteria and viruses. These materials comprise at least one treated surface coated with metallic nanoparticles. The treated surface may comprise the surface of a textile material, such as a cotton fiber surface. Personal protection equipment, that are effective for preventing exposure to bacteria and viruses, such as surgical masks and protective garments, are provided, and are made with the textiles described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing an antimicrobial metallic nanoparticle, semiconductor-coated surface on a textile material comprising:
 providing a semiconducting layer on at least one surface of the textile material to provide a treated semi-conductor—coated textile material surface; and   providing a uniform coating of metallic nanoparticles onto said textile material surface so as to provide a textile material comprising an antimicrobial metallic nanoparticle, semiconductor-coated surface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the semiconducting layer comprises a thin TiO 2  film. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the TiO 2  film is provided to the surface with a sol-gel procedure. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic nanoparticles comprise gold nanoparticles. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic nanoparticles comprise silver nanoparticles. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the metallic nanoparticles onto the textile material surface further comprises:
 preparing a solution of metallic nanoparticle precursor solution;   immersing said semiconductor-coated textile material into said precursor solution to provide a precursor solution treated textile material;   drying said precursor solution treated textile material; and   exposing said dried precursor solution treated textile material to ultraviolet radiation for a selected time duration sufficient to provide deposition of metallic nanoparticles on at least one surface of the treated textile material.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said precursor solution comprises gold chloride (AuCl 3 ). 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said precursor solution comprises silver nitrate (AgNO 3 ). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said semiconductor-coated textile material is immersed in said precursor solution for approximately 30 seconds. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the metallic nanoparticle semiconductor coated surface comprises an anti-viral semiconductor coated fiber material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the precursor solution treated semiconductor coated fiber material is dried at room temperature under normal atmospheric conditions for approximately 24 hours. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said dried precursor solution treated textile material is exposed to about 254 nm ultraviolet radiation for approximately 30 minutes. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said dried precursor solution treated textile material is exposed to about 254 nm UV radiation for approximately 15 minutes. 
     
     
         14 . A material comprising at least one surface comprising a metallic nanoparticle, semiconductor-coated textile surface, wherein said textile surface is anti-microbial and self-cleaning. 
     
     
         15 . The material of  claim 14  wherein the metallic nanoparticles comprise gold nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The material of  claim 14  wherein the textile surface is a cotton textile surface. 
     
     
         17 . A metallic nanoparticle and semi-conductor fiber material comprising:
 a textile material having at least one surface comprising a nanostructured titanium dioxide film and nanostructured metallic nanoparticles.   
     
     
         18 . The metallic nanoparticle and semi-conductor film material of  claim 17 , wherein the metallic nanoparticles comprises gold, silver or combination of gold and silver nanoparticles. 
     
     
         19 . The metallic nanoparticle and semi-conductor coated film material of  claim 17  wherein said material inhibits microbial penetration. 
     
     
         20 . A face mask comprising the metallic nanoparticle and semi-conductor fiber material of  claim 17 , said face mask being conformed to fit securely over a subject's mouth and nose. 
     
     
         21 . The face mask of  claim 21  comprising a surgical mask. 
     
     
         22 . A garment comprising the metallic nanoparticle and semi-conductor fiber material of  claim 17 . 
     
     
         23 . The garment of  claim 22  comprising a surgical garment.