ZnO films grown on cotton fibers surface at low temperature by a simple two-step process

Abstract Zinc oxide (ZnO) films have been synthesized and deposited onto cotton fiber surface using a simple two-step process. At first step, the cotton fiber surface was coated with a conductive layer of zinc–cellulose complex by rinsing the fibers in zinc chloride solution. After that, the growth of ZnO films was carried out in zinc acetate aqueous solution at room temperature, with alkaline aqueous solution drops continuously added under magnetic stirring. The morphology of the as-prepared ZnO-coated cotton fibers was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Infrared and photoluminescence spectra were used to confirm the existence of ZnO. In addition, the formation mechanism of ZnO-coated cotton fibers is discussed in detail.