Bio-based Surface Modification of Wool Fibers by Chitosan-graphene Quantum Dots Nanocomposites

Wool proteins have various chemical active groups which could create chemical reactions and bonds with functional groups existent in different substances. Hence, to have special features and competencies, one could perform surface modification of wool fibers using various chemical composites. This paper aims mainly to achieve surface modification of wool fibers by chitosan-nitrogen doped graphene quantum dots (Ch-NGQDs) as bio-based nanocomposites, and to investigate its consequent effects on the various properties of wool fibers such as color fastness, colorimetric parameters and antibacterial activities. To do this, first, Ch-NGQDs nanocomposites were synthesized including certain weight percentages. Then, wool fibers were modified by prepared nanocomposites. In order to characterize and confirm the synthesis of NGQDs and Ch-NGQDs nanocomposites, FT-IR, XRD, HR-TEM, UV-visible and photoluminescence spectrometry were applied. Subsequently, surface modification of wool fibers by Ch-NGQDs nanocomposites was studied using FESEM spectrometry, analysis of fastness properties, colorimetric parameters and Mueller-Hinton broth antibacterial test. Findings showed that surface modification of wool fibers by Ch-NGQDs nanocomposites led to partial improvement in their color fastness and colorimetric parameters. Additionally, surface modification of wool fibers resulted in elimination of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.