High-Strength Antibacterial Textiles Using Basalt Fibers Grafted with ZIF-8

Superstrength and high-performance textiles hold significant potential in the aviation industry, sporting goods, and extreme environment applications. In contrast, microorganisms that can survive on dry fabric surfaces for several months pose a threat to human health; thus, it is crucial to exploit antibacterial textiles. However, antimicrobial textiles prepared by incorporating functional elements onto the surface of the fabrics are vulnerable to degradation due to the peeling of the functional compounds after prolonged operation. Here, we present a facile approach to in situ grown zeolite imidazole framework 8 (ZIF-8) crystal particles on basalt fibers (BF) by solution impregnation method, in which the ZIF-8 is intensely grafted with the large number of hydroxyl groups on the surface of basalt fibers. The ZIF-8 in situ basalt fiber exhibits excellent antibacterial properties against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Gram-negative Escherichia coli, and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus . Furthermore, the stable and uniform distribution of ZIF-8 on the surface of basalt fibers endows the originally hydrophilic BF with excellent hydrophobicity. Simultaneously, the powerful coordination between ZIF-8 and BF provides ZIF-8 in situ grown basalt fiber with outstanding air/water retainability and remarkable mechanical robustness to satisfy the requirements of routine use and multiple laundering. ZIF-8 in situ grown basalt textiles produced with a highly scalable and low-cost method are promising for large-scale use in extreme environments.