The surface modification of textile fabrics and therefore, the development of advanced textile materials featuring specific implemented and new properties, such as improved durability and resistance, is increasingly in demand from modern society and end-users. In this regard, the sol–gel technique has shown to be an innovative and convenient synthetic route for developing functional sol–gel coatings useful for the protection of textile materials. Compared with the conventional textile finishing process, this technique is characterized by several advantages, such as the environmentally friendly approaches based on one-step applications and low concentration of non-hazardous chemicals. The sol–gel method, starting from inorganic metal alkoxides or metal salts, leads to inorganic sols containing particles that enable a chemical or physical modification of fiber surfaces, giving rise to final multifunctional properties of treated textile fabrics. This review considered the recent developments in the synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles and nanosols by sol–gel approach for improving wear and UV resistance, as well as antibacterial or antimicrobial effects for textile applications.

The widespread phase-out of long-chain per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) has created an urgent need for durable, fluorine-free water-repellent finishes that match the performance of legacy chemistries while minimising environmental impact. Here, the performance of an eco-friendly hybrid organic–inorganic treatment obtained by the in situ hydrolysis–condensation of triethoxy(octyl)silane (OS) in an amino-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (APT-PDMS) aqueous dispersion was investigated. The sol was applied to plain-weave cotton and polyester by a pad-dry-cure process and benchmarked against a commercial fluorinated finish. Morphology and chemistry were characterised by SEM–EDS, ATR-FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy; wettability was assessed by static contact angle, ISO 4920 spray ratings, and AATCC 193 water/alcohol repellence; and durability, handle, and breathability were evaluated through repeated laundering, bending stiffness, and water-vapour transmission rate measurements. The silica/PDMS coating formed a uniform, strongly adherent nanostructured layer conferring static contact angles of 130° on cotton and 145° on polyester. After five ISO 105-C10 wash cycles, the treated fabrics still displayed a spray rating of 5/5 and AATCC 193 grade 7, outperforming or equalling the fluorinated control, while causing ≤5% loss of water-vapour permeability and only a marginal increase in bending stiffness. These results demonstrate that the proposed one-step, water-borne sol–gel process affords a sustainable, industrially scalable route to high-performance, durable, water-repellent finishes for both natural and synthetic textiles, offering a viable alternative to PFAS-based chemistry for outdoor apparel and technical applications.

This study investigates Alizarin Red S (ARS)-functionalized polyurethane (PU) coatings as passive colorimetric interfaces for preliminary visual screening of selected heavy-metal ions in simulated seawater. ARS was incorporated into a hydrophilic PU matrix and deposited on glass substrates. UV–visible spectroscopy and ATR-FTIR were used to analyze the optical and vibrational features of the PU–ARS system, while DLS provided comparative information on the colloidal behavior of the liquid precursor formulations before film formation. After 48 h exposure to simulated seawater (ASTM D1141-98, pH 8.2) containing Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺, or Hg²⁺ at 5 × 10⁻⁴ M, the coatings developed ion-dependent color changes quantified in the CIE L*a*b* color space. Under these single-ion conditions, the total color difference followed the order Pb²⁺ > Cd²⁺ > Ni²⁺ > Hg²⁺, with approximate ΔE values of 27, 19, 16, and 13, respectively. Saline pre-immersion experiments up to 72 h, followed by 48 h exposure to metal-ion solutions, indicated that the coatings retained macroscopic readability and optical responsiveness under the tested conditions. The results support the use of PU–ARS coatings as proof-of-concept passive interfaces for visual heavy-metal screening in marine-like media. Further studies including calibration, detection limits, selectivity, interference, leaching assessment, and validation in real seawater will be required before analytical implementation.