Electrospun Nanocomposite Fibrous Membranes for Sustainable Face Mask Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerator with High Air Filtration Efficiency

Abstract

Air pollution caused by the rapid development of industry has always been a great issue to the environment and human being’s health. However, the efficient and persistent filtration to PM 0.3 remains a great challenge. Herein, a self-powered filter with micro–nano composite structure composed of polybutanediol succinate (PBS) nanofiber membrane and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber/polystyrene (PS) microfiber hybrid mats was prepared by electrospinning. The balance between pressure drop and filtration efficiency was achieved through the combination of PAN and PS. In addition, an arched TENG structure was created using the PAN nanofiber/PS microfiber composite mat and PBS fiber membrane. Driven by respiration, the two fiber membranes with large difference in electronegativity achieved contact friction charging cycles. The open-circuit voltage of the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) can reach to about 8 V, and thus the high filtration efficiency for particles was achieved by the electrostatic capturing. After contact charging, the filtration efficiency of the fiber membrane for PM 0.3 can reach more than 98% in harsh environments with a PM 2.5 mass concentration of 23,000 µg/m 3 , and the pressure drop is about 50 Pa, which doesn’t affect people’s normal breathing. Meanwhile, the TENG can realize self-powered supply by continuously contacting and separating the fiber membrane driven by respiration, which can ensure the long-term stability of filtration efficiency. The filter mask can maintain a high filtration efficiency (99.4%) of PM 0.3 for 48 consecutive hours in daily environments. Graphical abstract Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42765-023-00299-z.

Extreme Orientation of Stereocomplexed Poly(lactic acid) Induced Ultrafine Electroactive Nanofibers for Respiratory Healthcare and Intelligent Diagnosis

“…To interpret the PM filtration mechanisms, SEM observations were conducted for the PLA membranes after filtration tests (Figure m–p). It could be clearly observed that the microsized PMs were firmly adhered to the fiber nodes of OSC-PLA NFMs through physical interception, while the nanosized PMs were tightly captured by the fibers (Figure n–p). , Moreover, the excellent hydrophobic feature is a crucial prerequisite for ensuring the durability of the filter in a humid environment. , As illustrated in Figure S8, the contact angles of OSC-PLA NFMs were about 126.8°, indicating the potentially high humidity resistance …”

“…49,50 As illustrated in Figure S8, the contact angles of OSC-PLA NFMs were about 126.8°, indicating the potentially high humidity resistance. 51 Performance Evaluation of TENG Air Filters. The excellent electroactivity means that OSC-PLA NFMs confer superior triboelectric properties.…”

Fluid-based triboelectric nanogenerators: unveiling the prolific landscape of renewable energy harvesting and beyond

“…223 However, this type of mask exhibits poor stability in humid environments. To address this issue, Yang et al 224 developed a straightforward, self-powered air filtration face mask based on TENGs. The mask incorporates high filtration efficiency and long-term stable charges with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber/polystyrene (PS) microfiber.…”

The Rise of Electroactive Materials in Face Masks for Preventing Virus Infections

“…Unlike electrets, which need to be recharged, and conductive materials, which require an external power source, triboelectric materials can use friction between materials of different electronegativity to generate electrical charge. − Under mechanical deformation generated by facial expressions, breathing, or speaking, triboelectric face masks can be easily charged to achieve charge regeneration. − A range of triboelectric materials have been developed to avoid degradation of the filtration performance due to charge dissipation and to prolong the practical use of masks (Table ).…”