Multifunctional Active Fabrics of Enhanced Protection Against CWAs: Combining the Activity of Catalytic Phases and Modified Carbon Cloth
Abstract
Recent geopolitical situation and increasing terrorist threats create a need to develop active materials, which are able to decontaminate chemical warfare agents, example of which include Gagents, VX and HD, and other toxic species in an effective way. Materials recently tested for this purpose are metal hydroxides and metal-organic frameworks. Since powdered materials, regardless how active they are, cannot be used for personal protection owing to the technical difficulties related to a limited diffusion of reagents, the simple and efficient methods of their processing into more suitable forms such as granulation, incorporation into fibers or deposition on fibers need to be explored. The latter can also bring important synergistic effect enhancing the detoxification activity The objective of this research is to develop porous and reactive towards CWA metal (hydr)oxide/ activated carbon cloth (M(H)O/ACC) and metal organic framework /activated carbon cloth (MOF/ACC) composites which can be used as a part of protective garments for warfighters or flexible gas mask components. The efforts will focus on engineering the modified cloth synthesis and on the performance characterization of these new composite cloths. We hypothesize that new interface formed by modification of ACC with the hydr(oxide) and MOF phases will advance physical adsorption of CWA surrogate, oxygen activation, chemical reactivity and charge transfer. Moreover, a highly dispersed form of hydr(oxides) and MOF will bring benefits to catalytic processes, adding to those originating from the chemistry of the modified carbon support (nitrogen and sulfur based). Hydrophobicity of ACC and their high surface area will enhance the CWA physical adsorption process, which will be followed by a reactive adsorption/degradation step on the active phase of enhanced reactivity, and by adsorption of the reaction products in the developed porous structure of ACC. The following research questions will be addressed: 1) Which chemistry of ACC is the most beneficial for the M(H)O/ACC composite and MOF/ACC formation from the point of view of chemistry (defects, active centers, new interface), porosity and fabric integrity? 2) Which modification of ACC does lead to an increase in their reactivity towards CWA? 3)Which deposition method does lead to the most robust and reactive catalyst? 4)What is the specific mechanism of reactive adsorption on modified cloths with specific roles of each phase and the interface in the catalytic detoxification process? 5) How does interface contribute to surface reactivity? Successful completion of this effort will enhance the country defense capability. It will provide highly adsorptive and reactive multifunctional cloths capable of protecting against chemical agents in rapid and complete ways on which CWAs can be destroyed efficiently. Graduate (Master level) undergraduate and high school students will work on the project. CCNY is a minority serving institution, and thus the members of an under-represented group will have a chance to perform research and to earn a Ph.D. A broad range of teaching and outreach activities is planned to enrich education and research experience of minority students. International contact of the PIs and involvement in the research performed in other laboratories will expose students to interdisciplinary collaborations and team work.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 28, 2023
- Source ID
- W911NF2310204
Entities
People
- Teresa J. Bandosz
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- City University of New York
- Office of the Secretary of Defense