Hydrophobic self-cleaning cotton: A combined experimental and computational study

Hydrophobic Self-cleaning cotton fabrics have emerged as a promising class of functional textiles designed to reduce maintenance, enhance durability, and improve user comfort. In this study, hydrophobic cotton fabrics are developed using simple sol-gel dip coating method utilizing available materials like titanium tertaisopropoxide (TTIP) and stearic acid in different ratios to create micro–nano hierarchical structures with lower surface free energy and promote water repellency. Water contact angle (WCA) measurements verified the coated fabrics' hydrophobicity and found as highest value 138° in 25 % stearic acid which is near to superhydrophobic. Additionally, quantum mechanical methods were utilized to analyze the biochemical interactions between TiO₂ and stearic acid using DFT/B3LYP/6–31 G+ (d, p) method. The efficiency of TiO₂-based hydrophobic coatings is demonstrated by this combined experimental and computational study, which also offers a theoretical framework for comprehending their chemical behavior and suggests potential uses in industrial materials and textiles.