Electroless Plating of Silver Nanoparticles/Nanolayer on Polyester Fabric Using AgNO₃/NaOH and Ammonia

Abstract

A new method of producing conductive polyester fabric by using a novel electroless plating of silver nanoparticles on the fabric is introduced. The fabric was first treated with silver nitrate and sodium hydroxide at 130 °C for 1 h and then with ammonia at boil for 1 h. This treatment enhanced the fabric surface activity, created surface roughness, improved nanoparticle absorption, and produced ethylene as a reducing agent. This led to the formation of silver nanoparticles condensed into a nanolayer on the fabric surface after post-treatment with ammonia. X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed the presence of pure silver metal with a crystal size of 14 nm. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy images and energy-dispersive X-ray patterns also showed the presence of a silver nanolayer comprising silver nanoparticles on the fabric surface. The fabric treated under optimized conditions exhibited a low electrical resistivity of around 1.3 Ω/square.