Hierarchical nanoengineered emulsion with robust adhesion enables superior self-cleaning cotton fabrics

Self-cleaning treatment is of vital importance for the practical application of functional cotton fabrics. However, developing highly efficient, eco-friendly, and durable hydrophobic and oleophobic treatment agents still remains a great challenge. Herein, inspired by the design of the inorganic–organic nanonetwork, we successfully synthesized a novel core–shell structured emulsion of nano-SiO2/fluorine-silicon polyacrylate through semi-continuous emulsion polymerization. The introduction of long-chain alkyl methacrylate octadecyl ester within the shell phase results in a more organized arrangement of fluorine atoms on the surface of cotton fabrics, leading to a rapid reduction in the surface free energy of latex film. The sample is optimized with 20 wt% dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate and 1 wt% SiO2. The nanoengineered emulsion exhibits strong adhesion and effectively transforms the hydrophilic cotton fabrics into hydrophobic (143.2°) and oleophobic (121.6°) materials. Besides, the self-cleaning characteristic can withstand 25 laundering cycles and 800 abrasion cycles with enhanced robustness. This work opens up a pathway to develop effective, green but long-lasting amphiphobic agents for functional fabrics and sustainable textiles.