Development of cotton fabrics finished with tea polyphenol/copper network nanoparticles with UV resistance and antibacterial properties

Purpose In this study, as highly stable covalent bonds can be formed between catechol groups in the polyphenols structure and metal ions, TP and Cu2+ were combined to form TP-Cu MPN NPs, which have the characteristics of polyphenols and metal ions. Based on the strong affinity of the polyphenols structure to the surface of cotton fabrics and the easy cooperation of Cu2+ with hydroxyl groups on cellulose (Peng et al., 2013; Zhang et al., 2020), TP-Cu MPN NPs were used to finish cotton fabrics, and anti-UV and anti-bacterial properties were investigated, which further broadened the application prospects of MPN materials. Design/methodology/approach 0.1 mol/L copper sulfate solution and 0.15 mol/L tea polyphenol solution were prepared separately, mixed well in a ratio of 1:1 by volume and then adjusted the pH to 4 with 5% NaHCO3 solution, and finally the mixture was transferred to a clean and dry three-necked flask, and mechanically stirred for 30 min at 30 C. After cooling to room temperature, it was transferred to a centrifuge tube and centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 10 min, and the precipitate was kept and dried. The laboratory self-made deionized water was always used through the whole experimental process. Findings The results showed that TP-Cu MPN had a relatively regular structure at the nanometer level, with strong absorption peaks in the ultraviolet region, and the finished cotton fabrics have excellent anti-UV properties. After 30 washes or 108 h of anti-aging treatment, UPF value still reaches 80. In addition, TP-Cu MPN NPs have certain antibacterial effects on E. coli and S. aureus, and also strong tensile properties. In summary, the research of TP-Cu MPN NPs have contributed to the development of MPN materials in the fields of anti-UV and anti-bacterial. Originality/value MPN materials have been used in biomedicine, environmental protection and other fields owing to their rapid response, high safety, environment-friendly properties and low cost. However, little research has been conducted in the field of anti-UV finishing.