Superhydrophobic and supercapacitive reduced graphene oxide/fluoropolymer nanocoating on polyester fabric via spray mist coating

Abstract

Graphene oxide (GO) has attracted significant attention due to its unique structure and wide applications in fields such as renewable energy, microelectronics, and biotechnology. However, the combination of superhydrophobicity and supercapacitance in a single textile coating remains largely unexplored, representing a critical gap in current research. This study addresses this gap by developing a multifunctional nanocoating applied to polyester fabric using reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and a fluoropolymer (FP) via a spray mist coating technique. GO was synthesized by the Hummers and Hoffman method and reduced with environmentally friendly glucose. Structural and morphological modifications were confirmed through XRD, RAMAN, FTIR, XPS, and SEM-FEG analyses. The resulting nanocoated fabrics exhibited exceptional water repellency with contact angles exceeding 150°, enhanced washing, and abrasion resistance. A Box-Behnken design optimized key process parameters (RGO/FP ratio, curing temperature, and time) to achieve peak performance at a contact angle of 160° with a 1:5 ratio (RGO/FP), a curing temperature of 125°C, and a curing time of 2 minutes. Furthermore, the functionalized polyester fabric demonstrated a remarkable specific capacitance of 305.88 F/g, surpassing results from comparable studies and making it suitable for wearable supercapacitor applications. Durability tests revealed stable superhydrophobicity and structural integrity after five wash cycles, equivalent to 25 home washes. SEM-FEG analysis highlighted nanocoating-induced roughness, enhancing the lotus effect, while electrochemical evaluations indicated notable improvements in conductivity and energy storage. This environmentally friendly spray mist coating technique offers a scalable and sustainable approach for creating multifunctional textiles, paving the way for advanced applications in smart fabrics and flexible electronics.