Composite Porous Carbon Textile with Deposited Barium Titanate Nanospheres as Wearable Protection Medium against Toxic Vapors

Abstract Barium titanate nanospheres (BTO-NPs) were deposited on the carbon textile fibers, as a homogeneous coating (8 wt. %; thickness 80-240 nm). The composite was thermally stable, porous, and water repellent. Its adsorption capacity against mustard gas surrogate vapors increased 17 %, comparing to those on a carbon textile and BTO-NPs, indicating a synergy of both components. The deposited nanospheres created an additional porosity in the coating and at the interface, which promoted adsorption of the CWA surrogate. The weight uptake was 313 mg/g, currently the highest reported under the conditions applied. Desorption tests showed a very strong retention of the adsorbed vapors. CWA surrogate was decomposed into various products and the extent of the catalytic activity of the composite textile markedly exceeded those of its components. This was linked to the beneficial effect of the interface. Upon air exposure, the exhausted textile could be reused as a protective medium.