Microwave-Ultrasonic Synergistically Assisted Synthesis of ZnO Coated Cotton Fabrics with an Enhanced Antibacterial Activity and Stability.

ZnO nanoparticle (NP) coated cotton fabrics were prepared via a facile, time-saving, and cost-effective microwave-ultrasonic synergistic method. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and inductively coupled plasma (ICP), which demonstrated that uniform ZnO NPs with an average diameter of 34 nm were intensely coated on the cotton fabrics. Compared with the samples prepared by the single microwave or ultrasonic method, the as-prepared samples displayed preferable and durable antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli . The effects of the samples on inactivating microbial cells were also investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that the size and content of ZnO NPs coated on the cotton fabrics were dependent on the concentration of Zn 2+ and microwave-ultrasonic reaction time, which also had a significant influence on the antibacterial activity of the cotton fabrics. In view of the antibacterial activity and synthesis time, the best experimental parameters were obtained. This simple, efficient, and environmentally friendly one-pot synthesis method may have great potential in scale-up production of an antibacterial textile.