Self-charging electrostatic face masks leveraging triboelectrification for prolonged air filtration

Zehua Peng, Jihong Shi, Xiao Xiao, Ying Hong, Xuemu Li, Weiwei Zhang, Yongliang Cheng, Zuankai Wang, Wen Jung Li, Jun Chen, Michael K. H. Leung and Zhengbao Yang ()
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Zehua Peng: City University of Hong Kong
Jihong Shi: City University of Hong Kong
Xiao Xiao: University of California, Los Angeles
Ying Hong: City University of Hong Kong
Xuemu Li: City University of Hong Kong
Weiwei Zhang: City University of Hong Kong
Yongliang Cheng: Northwest University
Zuankai Wang: City University of Hong Kong
Wen Jung Li: City University of Hong Kong
Jun Chen: University of California, Los Angeles
Michael K. H. Leung: City University of Hong Kong
Zhengbao Yang: City University of Hong Kong

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Electrostatic adsorption is an important complement to the mechanical filtration for high-efficiency air filtering. However, the electrostatic charge decays with time, especially in humid conditions. In this work, a self-charging air filter is presented to capture airborne particles in an efficient and long-lasting manner without the need of external power sources. Leveraging the triboelectric effect between the electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanofiber film and nylon fabric, the self-charging air filter-based mask excited by breathing can continuously replenish electrostatic charges. As a result, its effective lifespan is up to 60 hours (including 30 hours of wearing), with a minimum filtration efficiency of 95.8% for 0.3-μm particles. The filtration efficiency and lifespan are significantly higher than those of a commercial surgical mask. Furthermore, we uncover the quantitative relation between filtration efficiency and surface electrostatic potential. This work provides an effective strategy to significantly prolong the electrostatic adsorption efficacy for high-performance air-filtering masks.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35521-w

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