Nano Energy | 2021
Tribo-charge enhanced hybrid air filter masks for efficient particulate matter capture with greatly extended service life
Abstract
Face masks have been an effective and indispensable personal protective measure against particulate matter pollutants and respiratory diseases, especially the novel Coronavirus disease recently However, disposable surgical face masks suffer from low filtration efficiency for particles ranging from nano- to micro-size, and the limited service life of ~ 4h Here, a nano/micro fibrous hybrid air filter mask composing of electrospun nanofibrous network and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene:poly(styrenesulfonate) coated polypropylene (PP) is proposed Furthermore, the resultant filter is supplied with tribo-charges by a freestanding sliding triboelectric nanogenerator Through the enhanced synergistic effect of mechanical interception and electrostatic forces, the hybrid air filter demonstrates high filtration efficiency for particle size of 11 5nm to 2 5µm, with a 9 3–34 68% enhancement for particles of 0 3–2 5µm compared to pristine PP, and 48-h stable filtration efficiency of 94% (0 3–0 4µm) and 99% (1–2 5µm) with a low pressure drop of ~110Pa In addition, sterilization ability of the tribo-charge enhanced air filter is demonstrated This work provides a facile and cost-effective approach for state-of-the-art face masks toward high filtration performance of nano- to micro- particles with greatly extended service life