Coating of Zn_1-xAl_xO on cotton fabric via a low temperature hydrothermal process and characterizations of the composites

A simple hydrothermal approach for coating of Zn1-xAlxO nanocrystals on cotton fabrics was developed. The phase, microstructures, and the ultraviolet protection properties of the samples were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry. The results showed that for 2 and 4 atom% Al-doped ZnO, a large number of small particles with diameters of 50 ~ 300 nm was obtained, which provided excellent protection from solar irradiation, and that the UV-blocking property of the fabric could be improved by increasing the Al-doping in ZnO. In addition, the cotton fabric coated with Aldoped ZnO nanoparticles showed surface-enhanced Raman scattering properties, which might have been caused by a charge-transfer resonance.