Functionalizing cellulose textiles for indoor pollutant removal through facile and durable redox assembly

The widespread application of nano-finishing agents in cotton functionalization has been hindered by concerns over their potential toxicity and inadequate durability. Herein, we demonstrate a facile strategy for the in-situ synthesis of manganese oxide (MnO₂) on cotton textiles via alternating assembly of potassium permanganate (KMnO 4 ), manganese chloride (MnCl 2 ) and 2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride (EPTAC). In this process, EPTAC was grafted onto cotton fibers, subsequently enabling the rapid adsorption and reduction of KMnO 4 to MnO 2 nanoparticles within 5 min, as well as minimizing fiber damage. Concurrently, EPTAC could be anchored between the negatively charged MnO 2 catalysts and cellulose structures through intermolecular coordination bonds, etherification grafting, and electronic interactions, thereby enhancing nanoparticle adhesion to the fibers and ensuring exceptional durability during repeated washing cycles. The Ag doping strategy in MnO 2 structure generated additional vacancies and significantly improved electron transfer efficiency, endowing the resulting textiles with remarkable antibacterial properties, including over 99 % inactivation in 20 min of irradiation. The treated textiles also demonstrated outstanding formaldehyde (HCHO) removal efficiency, achieving 72 % degradation within 30 min, accompanied by superior UV-blocking performance. The proposed deposition strategy of MnO 2 nanoparticles on cotton textiles provides an alternative for fabricating multifunctional decorative textiles, offering potential for indoor pollutant removals.