Skip to main content

Synthesis and characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles: application to textiles as UV-absorbers

Journal of Nanoparticle Research volume 10, pages 679–689 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

We report the synthesis and characterization of nanosized zinc oxide particles and their application on cotton and wool fabrics for UV shielding. The nanoparticles were produced in different conditions of temperature (90 or 150 °C) and reacting medium (water or 1,2-ethanediol). A high temperature was necessary to obtain small monodispersed particles. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD) were used to characterize the nanoparticles composition, their shape, size and crystallinity. The specific surface area of the dry powders was also determined. ZnO nanoparticles were then applied to cotton and wool samples to impart sunscreen activity to the treated textiles. The effectiveness of the treatment was assessed through UV–Vis spectrophotometry and the calculation of the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF). Physical tests (tensile strength and elongation) were performed on the fabrics before and after the treatment with ZnO nanoparticles.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

References

  • Algaba IM, Pepió M, Riva A (2007) Modelization of the influence of the treatment with two optical brighteners on the ultraviolet protection factor of cellulosic fabrics. Ind Eng Chem Res 46:2677–2682

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ambrosi M, Dei L, Giorgi R, Neto C, Baglioni P (2001) Colloidal particles of Ca(OH)2: properties and applications to restoration of frescoes. Langmuir 17:4251–4255

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arnold MS, Avouris P, Pan ZW, Wang ZL (2003) Field-Effect transistors based on single semiconducting oxide nanobelts. J Phys Chem B 107:659–663

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baglioni P, Dei L, Fratoni L, Lo Nostro P, Moroni M (2003) Preparation of nano- and micro-particles of group II and transition metals oxides and hydroxides and their use in the ceramic, textile and paper industries. Patent WO 2003082742

  • Bednarska K, Wachowicz B, Buczynski A (2000) UV-B-induced generation of free radicals in blood platelets. J Photochem Photobiol B: Biology 55:109–112

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Behnajady MA, Modirshahla N, Hamzavi R (2006) Kinetic study on photocatalytic degradation of C.I. acid yellow 23 by ZnO photocatalyst. J Hazardous Mat 133:226–232

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daoud WA, Xin JH (2004) Low temperature sol-gel processed photocatalytic titania coating. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 29:25–29

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Durán N, Marcato PD, De Souza GIH, Alves OL, Esposito E (2007) Antibacterial effect of silver nanoparticles produced by fungal process on textile fabrics and their effluent treatment. J Biomed Nanotechnol 3:203–208

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fei B, Deng Z, Xin JH, Zhang Y, Pang G (2006) Room temperature synthesis of rutile nanorods and their applications on cloth. Nanotechnology 17:1927–1931

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gambichler T, Avermaete A, Bader A, Altmeyer P, Hoffmann K (2001) Ultraviolet protection by summer textiles. Ultraviolet transmission measurements verified by determination of the minimal erythema dose with solar-simulated radiation. Br J Dermatol 144:484–489

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gambichler T, Hatch KL, Avermaete A, Altmeyer P, Hoffmann K (2002) Influence of wetness on the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of textiles: in vitro and in vivo measurements. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 18:29–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo L, Yang S, Yang C, Yu P, Wang J, Ge W, Wong GKL (2000) Synthesis and characterization of poly(vinylpyrrolidone)-modified zinc oxide nanoparticles. Chem Mater 12:2268–2274

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins R, Snyder RL (1996) Introduction to X-ray powder diffractometry. John Wiley & Sons, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Kwon YJ, Kim KH, Lim CS, Shim KB (2002) Characterization of ZnO nanopowders synthesized by the polymerized complex method via an organochemical route. J Ceramic Proc Res 3:146–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee HJ, Yeo SY, Jeong SH (2003) Antibacterial effect of nanosized silver colloidal solution on textile fabrics. J Mater Sci 38:2199–2204

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li YQ, Fu SY, Mai YM (2006) Preparation and characterization of transparent ZnO/epoxy nanocomposites with high-UV shielding efficiency. Polymer 47:2127–2132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liebler DC (2006) The poisons within: application of toxicity mechanisms to fundamental disease processes. Chem Res Toxicol 19:610–613

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liufu S, Xiao H, Li Y (2004) Investigation of PEG adsorption on the surface of zinc oxide nanoparticles. Powder Technol 145:20–24

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu H, Fei B, Xin JH, Wang RH, Li L (2006) Fabrication of UV-blocking nanohybrid coating via miniemulsion polymerization. J Colloid Interface Sci 300:111–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moroni M, Borrini D, Calamai L, Dei L (2005) Ceramic nanomaterials from aqueous and 1,2-ethanediol supersaturated solutions at high temperature. J Colloid Interface Sci 286:543–550

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/National Weather Service, Climate Prediction Center web site: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/stratosphere/uv_index/gif_files/spectrum.gif. Cited 16 July 2007

  • Pan ZW, Dai ZR, Wang ZL (2001) Nanobelts of semiconducting oxides. Science 291:1947–1949

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perez-Maqueda LA, Wang L, Matijevic E (1998) Nanosize indium hydroxide by peptization of colloidal precipitates. Langmuir 14:4397–4401

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qi K, Chen X, Liu Y, Xin JH, Mak CL, Daoud WA (2007) Facile preparation of anatase/SiO2 spherical nanocomposites and their application in self cleaning textiles. J Mater Chem 17:3504–3508

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riva A, Algaba IM, Pepió M (2006) Action of a finishing product in the improvement of the ultraviolet protection provided by cotton fabrics. Modelisation of the effect. Cellulose 13:697–704

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salvadori B, Dei L (2001) Synthesis of Ca(OH)2 nanoparticles from diols. Langmuir 17:2371–2374

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sato H, Ikeya M (2004) Organic molecules and nanoparticles in inorganic crystals: vitamin C in CaCO3 as an ultraviolet absorber. J Appl Phys 95:3031–3036

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sawai J (2003) Quantitative evaluation of antibacterial activities of metallic oxide powders (ZnO, MgO and CaO) by conductimetric assay. J Microbiol Methods 54:177–182

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scalia S, Tursilli R, Bianchi A, Lo Nostro P, Bocci E, Ridi F, Baglioni P (2006) Incorporation of the sunscreen agent, octyl methocycinnamate in a cellulosic fabric grafted with β-cyclodextrin. Int J Pharm 308:155–159

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shvalagin VV, Stroyuk AL, Kuchmii SYa (2007) Photochemical synthesis of ZnO/Ag nanocomposites. J Nanopart Res 9:427–440

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Takeshita K, Chi C, Hirata H, Ono M, Ozawa T (2006) In vivo generation of free radicals in the skin of live mice under ultraviolet light, measured by L-band EPR spectroscopy. Free Radic Biol Med 40:876–885

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tang E, Cheng G, Ma X (2006a) Preparation of nano-ZnO/PMMA composite particles via grafting of the copolymer onto the surface of zinc oxide nanoparticles. Powder Technol 161:209–214

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tang E, Cheng G, Ma X, Pang X, Zhao Q (2006b) Surface modification of zinc oxide nanoparticle by PMAA and its dispersion in aqueous system. Appl Surf Sci 252:5227–5232

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tang E, Cheng G, Pang X, Ma X, Xing F (2006c) Synthesis of nano-ZnO/poly(methylmethacrylate) composite microsphere through emulsion polymerization and its UV-shielding property. Colloid Polym Sci 284:422–428

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turkoglu M, Yener S (1997) Design and in vivo evaluation of ultrafine inorganic-oxide-containing-sunscreen formulations. Int J Cosmet Sci 19:193–201

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • UNI EN ISO 13934-1:1999—Tensile properties of fabrics. Part 1: determination of maximum force and elongation at maximum force using the strip method

  • UNI EN ISO 26330:1996—Domestic washing and drying procedures for textile testing

  • Vigneshwaran N, Kumar S, Kathe AA, Varadarajan PV, Prasad V (2006) Functional finishing of cotton fabrics using zinc oxide-soluble starch nanocomposites. Nanotechnology 17:5087–5095

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Ma C, Sun X, Li H (2002) Preparation of nanocrystalline metal oxide powders with the surfactant-mediated method. Inorg Chem Comm 5:751–755

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang RH, Xin JH, Tao XM, Daoud WA (2004) ZnO nanorods grown on cotton fabrics at low temperature. Chem Phys Lett 398:250–255

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang RH, Xin JH, Tao XM (2005) UV-blocking property of dumbbell-shaped ZnO crystallites on cotton fabrics. Inorg Chem 44:3926–3930

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xin JH, Daoud WA, Kong YY (2004) A new approach to UV-blocking treatment for cotton fabrics. Text Res J 74:97–100

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiong M, Gu G, You B, Wu L (2003) Preparation and characterization of poly(styrene butylacrylate) latex/nano-ZnO nanocomposites. J Appl Polym Sci 90:1923–1931

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yadav A, Prasad V, Kathe AA, Raj S, Yadav D, Sundaramoorthy C, Vigneshwaran N (2006) Functional finishing in cotton fabrics using zinc oxide nanoparticles. Bull Mater Sci 29:641–645

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors greatly acknowledge partial financial support from CSGI (Florence, Italy) and MIUR (PRIN-2003, Rome, Italy).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and CSGI, University of Florence, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy

    Alessio Becheri, Maximilian Dürr, Pierandrea Lo Nostro & Piero Baglioni

Authors
  1. Alessio Becheri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Maximilian Dürr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Pierandrea Lo Nostro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Piero Baglioni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pierandrea Lo Nostro.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Becheri, A., Dürr, M., Lo Nostro, P. et al. Synthesis and characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles: application to textiles as UV-absorbers. J Nanopart Res 10, 679–689 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-007-9318-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-007-9318-3

Keywords

  • Zinc oxide
  • Nanoparticle(s)
  • Textile
  • UV
  • UPF
  • Sunscreen
  • Nanocomposites
  • Dispersions