Multi‐Scale Nanoarchitectured Fibrous Networks for High‐Performance, Self‐Sterilization, and Recyclable Face Masks
Jian Xiong, Ailin Li, Ye Liu, Liming Wang, Xiaohong Qin, Jianyong Yu
Abstract
Abstract Airborne particulate matter (PM) pollutants, especially with nanoscale size, have caused serious public health issues. The global demand for high‐performance and recyclable face masks is increasing dramatically, especially during the COVID‐19 pandemic. However, present masks suffer from low‐efficiency interception of PM 0.3 /pathogen, limited air permeability, and incapacity to reuse and recycle. Here, multi‐scale nanoarchitectured nanofiber/carbon nanotube (NF/CNT) networks are constructed by a needleless‐electrospinning/spraying‐netting strategy, enabling well‐dispersed CNT networks (diameter ≈ 25 nm) welded on charged nanofibrous scaffolds (diameter > 100 nm) layer by layer. The optimized NF/CNT networks possess a fluffy structure with narrow‐distribution small pores (size ≈ 400 nm), “free molecular flow” behavior, and electrostatic adsorption property, thereby exhibiting high filtration efficiency ( > 99.994% PM 0.3 removal) and low resistance ( < 0.05% atmosphere pressure). Furthermore, they demonstrate reliable and ultra‐fast photothermal‐driven self‐sterilization ( > 99.986% in 5 min) under 1 sun and electrothermal‐driven self‐sterilization ( > 99.9999% in 2 min) in sunless scenes owing to their unique nanoarchitecture. Most importantly, the abandoned NF/CNT filters can be fully recycled as high‐performance solar vapor generators to desalinate seawater (3.56 L m −2 d −1 ). This work offers a fascinating solution to reduce disease transmission, resource consumption, and environmental burdens.