Experimental and statistical analysis of dielectric barrier discharge plasma effect on sonochemically TiO2 coated cotton fabric using complete composite design

Abstract A single step ultrasonic biosynthesis method was used to synthesize and coat TiO2 nanoparticles onto DBD plasma functionalized raw cotton. Titanium isopropoxide was reduced with aloe vera plant extract into TiO2 nanoparticles. The effect of DBD plasma treatment on self-cleaning property of TiO2 coated fabric was optimized statistically by using a complete composite design. To induce functional groups on the cotton fabric surface, the fabric was pre-treated with DBD plasma over various periods of time. The plasma exposure time, molarity of solution and ultrasonication time were optimized using complete composite design package. TiO2 nanoparticles revealed spherical shape and anatase phase with average crystallite size of 10.46 nm. The statistically optimized plasma exposure time, molarity and sonication time was 7 min, 0.80 and 75 min, respectively. The plasma activation of fabric significantly improved the adsorption, tensile strength and self-cleaning ability of TiO2 coated fabric.