Functionalized fabric with Ag/AgBr/Fe2O3 for optimized outdoor applications

Abstract

Outdoor activities are an inevitable part of daily life. However, challenges such as elevated body temperatures due to solar radiation and bacterial infestations pose significant obstacles to comfort and safety. Currently, there is a lack of simple, economical, and efficient solutions for outdoor cooling and bacterial mitigation without external energy input. In this study, a composite fabric was developed by loading iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) and silver bromide (AB) nanomaterials onto polyester fabric (FC) using low-temperature hydrothermal treatment and in-situ co-precipitation. This composite fabric retained both the aesthetic and structural integrity of the fibers, while effectively reduced the temperature by 5°C under sunlight through reflecting solar radiation and improving the transmission of human body thermal radiation. Additionally, the composite fabric exhibits excellent photocatalytic performance, efficiently degrading volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and demonstrating over 90% antibacterial efficiency against various bacteria. The combination of its superior cooling and photocatalytic capabilities, alongside its cost-effective and straightforward production process, shows broad potential for sustainable applications.