an advanced bath sponges. This fabric comprises catalysts within its cavities. Similar to how sponges absorb water, these catalysts are capable of absorbing and deactivating harmful substances, viruses, and bacteria. A novel nanomaterial in combination with textile fibers has the potential to degrade deadly nerve agents. The composite material demonstrates promising results in the production of protective garments for workers in hazardous environments.
The technique is based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and this creation of MOF/fiber materials is a follow-up of Farha’s previous research. The original research resulted in the invention of a nanomaterial with the specific purpose of deactivating deadly nerve agents. However, the team was able to combine this material with antibacterial and antiviral chemicals after certain changes.
Farha explained about the benefits of the fabric. She said, “Having a bifunctional material that has the ability to deactivate both chemical and biological toxic agents is crucial since the complexity to integrate multiple materials to do the job is high”. The material is effective against SARS-CoV-2, gram-negative and gram-positive germs, as well as hazardous nerve agents like sulfur mustard gas.
Additionally, this material may also be utilized to manufacture face masks and other protective garments. The material needs only usual textile equipment to manufacture; equipment that is presently accessible and in use in the industry, enabling easy mass production. The material’s nanopores are large enough to allow sweat and water to expel, and when used as a mask, it protects the user from viruses as well as keeps them from infecting others. The researchers gained a better knowledge of the material’s active spots as a result of this investigation, which might result in other interesting breakthroughs in MOF technology.
