Enhanced synthesis of CTAB-assisted ZnO nanosheets on SiO2 nanofibers: Antibacterial properties and flame retardant enabled by template-free electrospinning

Antibacterial fiber materials have found widespread use in textiles. However, conventional antibacterial fibers are typically polymer-based, which often results in a trade-off between flame retardancy and antibacterial activity. In this study, SiO 2 nanofibers (SiO 2 NFs) were first prepared using template-free electrospinning from a Si(OH) 4 solution without the use of polymers. Then, ZnO nanosheets were grown on the SiO 2 NFs matrix through a hydrothermal reaction under the synergistic effect of Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), which resulted in ZnO nanosheets/SiO 2 nanofibers (ZnO NSs/SiO 2 NFs) with both high antibacterial activity and flame retardant properties. This process enabled the controllable synthesis of ZnO nanosheets on SiO 2 NFs. The antibacterial rate of ZnO NSs/SiO 2 NFs against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) exceeded 99.90 %, owing to their unique morphological advantages, high active centers, and sufficient surface positive charge. Cytotoxicity tests confirmed that ZnO NSs/SiO 2 NFs exhibited no significant cytotoxicity and demonstrated good cell compatibility. Furthermore, ZnO NSs/SiO 2 NFs not only displayed excellent flame retardant properties but also maintained a 99.90 % antibacterial rate after continuous exposure to a flame for 10 min at 519.9°C (the alcohol lamp’s flame temperature). In addition, after 10 cycles of washing, ZnO NSs/SiO 2 NFs still maintained a 96.50 % antibacterial rate against E. coli and S. aureus , which demonstrated their excellent reusability. Therefore, a multifunctional pure inorganic nanofiber was developed, which exhibited strong biological activity, flame retardancy, antibacterial properties, and cycle stability. This research and development of antibacterial fibers laid a solid foundation for the further expansion of the antibacterial fabric market.