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: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42765-023-00299-z.