What are the best laboratory techniques for synthesizing nanomaterials for sustainable textiles?

Nanomaterials are materials with at least one dimension in the range of 1-100 nanometers, which gives them unique physical and chemical properties. They have many potential applications in various fields, including sustainable textiles. Sustainable textiles are fabrics that are produced with minimal environmental impact, using renewable resources, biodegradable materials, or recycled materials. Nanomaterials can enhance the performance, functionality, and durability of sustainable textiles, as well as reduce their energy and water consumption. However, synthesizing nanomaterials for sustainable textiles requires careful selection and optimization of laboratory techniques, depending on the desired properties and characteristics of the final product. In this article, you will learn about some of the best laboratory techniques for synthesizing nanomaterials for sustainable textiles, and how they work.

1 Sol-gel method

The sol-gel method is a versatile technique that can produce nanomaterials with different shapes, sizes, and compositions. It involves the formation of a sol, which is a colloidal suspension of nanosized particles in a liquid, and then the conversion of the sol into a gel, which is a solid network of interconnected particles. The gel can then be dried, calcined, or sintered to obtain the desired nanomaterials. The sol-gel method can be used to synthesize nanomaterials such as metal oxides, silica, carbon, and polymers, and to coat them on textile fibers or fabrics. The sol-gel method can improve the mechanical, thermal, optical, and antimicrobial properties of sustainable textiles.

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Azadeh Bashari -آزاده بشری

🔹️PhD in Textile Engineering🔹️ Technology & innovation Consultant - BI in Textile & Clothing
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Green synthesis methods typically involve the use of natural, non-toxic, and renewable materials as precursors. For example, plant extracts or biopolymers can be used to synthesize nanoparticles with desired properties. These green synthesis methods are particularly relevant for sustainable textile applications.

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2 Hydrothermal method

The hydrothermal method is a technique that uses high temperature and pressure to synthesize nanomaterials in an aqueous solution. It can produce nanomaterials with uniform size and shape, and high crystallinity and purity. The hydrothermal method can be used to synthesize nanomaterials such as metal sulfides, metal phosphates, metal nitrides, and metal organic frameworks, and to incorporate them into textile fibers or fabrics. The hydrothermal method can enhance the electrical, magnetic, catalytic, and adsorptive properties of sustainable textiles.

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3 Electrospinning method

The electrospinning method is a technique that uses an electric field to draw out nanofibers from a polymer solution or melt. It can produce nanofibers with large surface area, high porosity, and tunable diameter and morphology. The electrospinning method can be used to synthesize nanofibers from natural or synthetic polymers, such as cellulose, silk, chitosan, polyethylene, and polyacrylonitrile, and to blend them with other nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, or nanoparticles. The electrospinning method can improve the strength, flexibility, biocompatibility, and biodegradability of sustainable textiles.

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Mohammed Naushad Ali🇮🇳

CEO I Mass Manufacturer of Graphene | Industrial Nanotechnologist | Process Engineering | Graphene Application Developer | Tech Investor I Co-Founder and CTO BLOOMTECH LLC
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Graphene enhances electrospinning by improving mechanical strength, imparting conductivity, increasing surface area, and tailoring properties. This results in versatile nanofibers with applications in electronics, thermal management, filtration, and biomedical engineering.This is in trend .

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4 Chemical vapor deposition method

The chemical vapor deposition method is a technique that uses a gas-phase reaction to deposit nanomaterials on a substrate. It can produce nanomaterials with high quality, uniformity, and conformity. The chemical vapor deposition method can be used to synthesize nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, metal oxides, and metal carbides, and to grow them on textile fibers or fabrics. The chemical vapor deposition method can enhance the conductivity, thermal stability, and barrier properties of sustainable textiles.

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Raghavv Raghavender Suresh

Graduate Student at IIT Kharagpur
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The choice of technique, and hence technology largely depends on the application in hand. If the fabric should be completely made with nanomaterial made fabrics, popular techniques like this electrospinning, which yields nanomaterial based fibers can be used. However, since the fibers are in nano/micrometers there is an issue of ventilation and hence is cumbersome. On the contrary, the nanomaterial can be formulated into an ink and then coated onto textiles. This can be achieved via screen printing, which is a widely used technology in the textile industry. This method economical, and compatible with mass fabrication and aspects of surface affinity of nanomaterial ink with fabric should be validated and ink composition be optimised.

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Mohammed Naushad Ali🇮🇳

CEO I Mass Manufacturer of Graphene | Industrial Nanotechnologist | Process Engineering | Graphene Application Developer | Tech Investor I Co-Founder and CTO BLOOMTECH LLC
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The chemical vapor deposition method is unsuitable for textile synthesis. Electrospinning, especially when properties are established at the lab scale, is a more viable option for large-scale production of textiles.

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5 Self-assembly method

The self-assembly method is a technique that uses the spontaneous organization of nanomaterials into ordered structures, driven by intermolecular forces, such as hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, or van der Waals forces. It can produce nanomaterials with complex shapes, patterns, and functionalities. The self-assembly method can be used to synthesize nanomaterials such as DNA, peptides, proteins, lipids, and nanoparticles, and to arrange them on textile fibers or fabrics. The self-assembly method can create smart, responsive, and adaptive sustainable textiles.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are the best laboratory techniques for synthesizing nanomaterials for sustainable textiles?

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1 Sol-gel method

2 Hydrothermal method

3 Electrospinning method

4 Chemical vapor deposition method

5 Self-assembly method

6 Here’s what else to consider

Materials Science

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