A scalable, eco-friendly ultralow-temperature approach to forming Al 2 O 3 water-repellent cotton coatings via UV photo-annealing.

Hydrophobic coatings on cotton fabrics were successfully prepared via solution deposition of a "flat" nanoscale aluminum hydroxo cluster and a photo-assisted anneal using ultraviolet light. The coatings have a low surface roughness and high uniformity confirmed by SEM imaging and elemental analysis. The method represents a robust, scalable, and environmentally benign procedure suitable for industrial processes.