In preparation of self-decontamination clothing materials in high reactivities against toxic agents, photoactive benzophenone chromophoric groups were incorporated into cotton fabrics. The cotton fabrics were treated by using 4-hydroxybenzophenone as a reagent, 1,2,3,4,-butanetetra carboxylic acid (BTCA) as a crosslinker, and sodium hypophosphite as a catalyst. The fabric treatment was conducted by a pad-dry-cure method. The benzophenone chromophoric group incorporated cotton fabrics were characterized by FTIR, SEM, TGA, and so on. The results confirmed the expected structures of the benzophenone chromophoric group modified and BTCA crosslinked cotton fabrics. The treated cotton fabrics demonstrated radical reactivities and antibacterial activity tinder UV irradiation. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, tnc.