ABSTRACT
Aramid fibers are widely used in many cutting-edge fields, including space, aviation, military, and electronics. However, their poor UV resistance and surface inertness seriously hinder their utilization, especially in harsh environments. Here, a dual-layer ultrathin Al2O3-TiO2 coating with a thickness of 70-180 nm is fabricated on aramid fibers by a modified atomic layer deposition (ALD) method. The tenacity of ALD-coated aramid fibers decreases only by ≈0.85% after exposure to intense UV light (4260 W m-2) under high temperature (>200 â) for 90 min, which equals to continuous exposure to sunlight for about 17 500 days. The as-prepared aramid fibers also show excellent laundering durability, thermal and chemical stabilities. This work presents a green and damage-free approach to achieve the highly anti-UV aramid fibers without sacrificing their outstanding performance, which is expected to guide material design for future innovations in functional fibers and devices.
ABSTRACT
The removal of dyes via photocatalytic degradation has been identified as an eco-friendly method for producing clean and purified water. Natural cellulosic fibers are significant renewable resource and important in a wide range of applications. Herein, we report a natural cellulosic Juncus effusus (JE) fiber with 3D network structure as a framework to provide controllable space for the growth of TiO2 particles. The TiO2-JE showed remarkable activity in the removal of C.I. Reactive Red 120 (RR120), C.I. Direct Yellow 12 (DY12), and methylene blue (MB) with a photodegradation efficiency of 99.9 % under simulated sunlight irradiation. Additionally, an orientate fabric was fabricated using the prepared TiO2-JE fibers for the photocatalytic degradation of dye-contaminated water in the sun, further confirming its practical application. The TiO2 decorated natural cellulosic JE fiber can be a promising material for photocatalysis and sustainable chemistry.