Cotton fabrics with highly effective antibacterial and antiviral properties are obtained by using a simple impregnation process of copper ions

In the context of the global pandemic, the demand for antimicrobial and antiviral functional textiles has risen sharply, driving the pursuit of more efficient and durable surface modification strategies. In this study, we propose a simple and effective two-step impregnation method to simultaneously enhance the antibacterial and antiviral properties of cotton fabrics. Specifically, methyl thioglycolate (METG) was first covalently grafted onto a cotton fiber surface, followed by stable immobilization of Cu(II) ions through coordination with the introduced thiol groups. The resulting fabric exhibited outstanding antimicrobial and antiviral performance, achieving a 99.99% bacterial reduction rate (BR) against both Escherichia coli and Streptococcus aureus within 20 minutes (AATCC 100-2012 Test Standard), and a 99.99% virus inactivation rate (VR) against bacteriophage Phi-x174 within 5 minutes (YY/T 1497-2016 Test Standard). Notably, the modified fabric maintained excellent antimicrobial and antiviral performance even after 400 abrasion cycles or 50 washing cycles. Moreover, the intrinsic properties of the modified cotton fabric (including water vapor permeability, tensile strength, water absorption, droplet diffusion area, and softness) remained essentially unchanged, ensuring comfort and wearability. This method offers several advantages: it is easy to operate, cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and well-aligned with the principles of sustainable development. Additionally, it provides a promising platform for developing high-performance antimicrobial and antiviral textiles, especially for use in healthcare and personal protection.