Metal nanoparticle enhanced semiconductor film for functionalized textiles

Abstract

A method for forming a metallic nanoparticle and semiconductor coated fiber material 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 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. The steps for forming metallic nanoparticles on a semiconducting layer can include 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 having a least one treated surface coated with metallic nanoparticles. The treated surface may comprise the surface of a textile material treated according to the methods provided herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing a metallic nanoparticle, semiconductor-coated surface on a material comprising:
 providing a semiconducting layer on at least one surface of a material to provide at least one treated surface on a semi-conductor-coated textile material;   depositing metallic nanoparticles onto said treated surface; and   forming a metallic nanoparticle, semiconductor-coated surface on the material.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing a semiconducting layer to the surface comprises coating the surface with a TiO 2  film. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein coating the surface with the TiO 2  film comprises 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 depositing metallic nanoparticles onto the surface further comprises:
 preparing a solution of metallic nanoparticle precursor solution;   immersing said semiconductor-coated textile material in said precursor solution to provide a precursor solution treated material;   drying said precursor solution treated material; and   exposing said dried precursor solution treated material to ultraviolet radiation for a selected time duration so as to provide deposition of metallic nanoparticles on at least one surface of the material.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said precursor solution comprises gold chloride (AuCl 3 ) and ultrapure water. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said precursor solution comprises silver nitrate (AgNO 3 ) and ultrapure water. 
     
     
         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 said precursor solution treated material comprises a precursor solution treated semiconductor coated fiber material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the precursor solution treated semiconductor coated fiber material is dried at room temperature under normal atmospheric conditions for approximately 24 hours, to provide a pretreated dried semiconductor coated fiber material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said pretreated dried semiconductor coated fiber material is exposed to about 254 nm UV radiation for approximately 30 minutes. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said pretreated dried semiconductor coated fiber 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 surface, wherein said 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 surface is a 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,   wherein said nanostructured titanium dioxide film comprises a metallic nanoparticle.   
     
     
         18 . The metallic nanoparticle and semi-conductor coated film material of  claim 17  wherein the metallic nanoparticle comprises a gold, silver or combination of gold and silver nano-particles. 
     
     
         19 . The metallic nanoparticle and semi-conductor coated film material of  claim 17  wherein said material is resistant to  E. coli  microbial contamination.