Multi-hierarchical nanofibre membranes composited with ordered structure/nano-spiderwebs for air filtration

To address environmental pollution and emerging infectious diseases, highly efficient filters capable of simultaneously removing air pollutants and pathogenic microorganisms must be developed. Traditional fibrous filter materials are incapable of effectively capturing fine particles owing to their wide fibres and large pores. In this study, we used electrospinning to combine nano-spiderwebs with an ordered nanofibre membrane and construct an air-filtration material with a multi-stage pore structure that filters efficiently to deliver breathable air. The prepared composite nanofibre membrane exhibited a filtration efficiency of > 98% for particulate matter < 0.3 µm in size with a pressure drop of < 100 Pa. The nano-spiderweb/ordered structure combination effectively improved the fine-particle filtration efficiency. In addition, the composite nanofibre membrane exhibited excellent bacterial filtration efficiency (>95%), highlighting its considerable potential for use in air-filtration applications.