Multifunctional Janus Fabrics for Top Sheet of Cloth Diapers
Traditional cloth diapers rely on the water retention capacity of absorbent cores to deter leaks, often overlooking the top sheet, which can lead to reverse osmosis of absorbed urine. Janus membranes, known for their liquid diode effect, present an ideal material for the top sheet of cloth diapers. However, the widespread application of Janus membranes in cloth diapers faces challenges such as failure to meet anti-backflow requirements, limited biocompatibility, and insufficient antimicrobial properties. Here, a multifunctional Janus fabric for the top sheet of cloth diapers is developed through the synergistic combination of gradient wettability and nanoparticle functionality. The modulable gradient wettability provides unidirectional liquid transport with a high rectification ratio, which is essential for preventing liquid backflow. Consequently, prototype cloth diapers incorporating Janus fabrics as the top sheet outperform commercial products in wetback resistance. Functionalized silver nanoparticles not only provide the necessary micro-nano hierarchical structure for gradient wettability but also endow Janus fabrics with excellent chemical antibacterial properties. The integration of dryness derived from the excellent unidirectional transport performance and antibacterial properties effectively prevents bacterial growth on cloth diapers. Additionally, the Janus fabrics exhibit excellent washability and biocompatibility, further enhancing their potential applications in reusable cloth diapers.