A facile approach to prepare bioactive electroconductive cotton fabric by reducing graphene oxide with sulphur-containing compounds in the dyeing process.

Graphene oxide (GO) and graphene oxide/bioactive agent dispersions were deposited on a cotton fabric and then chemically reduced at 90°C for 40min using dyeing technique. As the reducing agents the compounds containing sulphur: sodium hydroxymethanesulfinate and to compare sodium hydrosulfite, widely applied in the textile industry, were used. The one-step process of the GO reduction imparted electrical conductivity, hydrophobic properties (water contact angle of approx. 130°) and in the presence of bioactive agents (bis(2-pyridylthio)zinc 1,1’-dioxide dispersion or dimethyltetradecyl [3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl] ammonium chloride) bioactive properties to the cotton fabric. After chemical reduction of GO the surface resistance value was on the order of 103-104 Ω, whereas after reduction of GO in the presence of the bioactive agents the increase in surface resistance value of the cotton fabric by one order of magnitude was observed.The advantage of the dyeing technique to GO reduction on the surface of cotton fibres is that it does not deteriorate the strength properties of the fabric. In addition, the possibility of reducing GO with the use of devices and auxiliary agents commonly used in the textile industry is of particular importance in economic and ecological terms.