Herein, printing and functionalization of cotton fabric surfaces in terms of excellent coloration,
antimicrobial properties, and UV protection were developed using synthesized selenium nanoparticles
(Se-NPs) as a stable functional colorant. The variation in color shades from light red/yellow
(orange) to dark orange was achieved using only various concentrations of synthesized Se-
NPs. The color characteristics of the prints were evaluated and analyzed. The color depth (K/S)
of the cotton prints increases with increasing Se-NPs content. The surface plasmon resonance
(SPR) bands of the Se-NPs were observed at approximately 263 nm for each concentration, indicating
the presence of spherical Se-NPs, which was confirmed by TEM and UV–Vis analysis. The
functionalized cotton fabrics were then characterized by SEM, EDX, and XRD analyses. The
results revealed that the particles were within the nano-range size, distributed homogenously
onto the surfaces, and firmly attached to the cotton fiber. The color characteristics of the
printed fabrics demonstrated uniform and brilliant color shades with outstanding colorfastness.
Moreover, the imparted antimicrobial and UV-protection properties of the cottonSe-NPs prints
were retained at an acceptable level (>70%) of durability even after 15 washing cycles. |
