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Chemical engineering of electrospun nanofibrous‐based three‐layered nonwoven polymeric protective mask for enhanced performance
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Researchers engineered a three-layered electrospun nanofibrous face mask combining hydrophilic, hydrophobic, and antidroplet polymer layers—including PVDF coated with silica nanoparticles—achieving high filtration performance and splash resistance while addressing the pore-blockage limitations of conventional mask materials.
Abstract During the COVID‐19 pandemic, face masks, respirators, and personal protective equipment have become common preventive measures. However, the COVID‐19 pandemic has highlighted the lack of efficient and reusable face masks worldwide. Immense efforts have been dedicated to designing antidust and antidroplet masks to ensure safe breathing. In this context, electrospun nanofibrous layers have attracted considerable attention for the fabrication of antidust and antidroplet masks. During long‐term usage, water droplet layers can lead to pore blockages; this remains a major concern. In this study, a three‐layered sandwich structure comprising a hydrophilic spongy layer, hydrophobic support layer, and antidroplet layer was developed to address this concern. Specifically, the structure comprised polyvinylidene fluoride‐silica nanoparticles‐perfluorooctyl trichlorosilane/polyethylene/polybenzimidazole (PVDF‐Si‐NPs‐PFTOS/PET/PBI) electrospun nanofibrous layers. The PBI layer was utilized as soft, hydrophilic, skin‐friendly layer, as supported by the PET layer for better mechanical stability. In addition, PVDF coated with micro‐nano scale Si‐NPs as modified with a PFTOS nonwoven electrospun layer was used for the antifouling, antidroplet, and splash resistance capabilities. This novel electrospun nanofibrous nonwoven three‐layered sandwich structure (PVDF‐Si‐PFTOS/PET/PBI) exhibited high performance, with competitive antidroplet abilities. Accordingly, this research can be used to fabricate face masks with antidroplet and splash resistance for personal safety and protective equipment.
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Researchers developed enhanced air filtration materials by combining natural fibers with electrospun PVDF-HFP nanofibers, achieving improved particulate filtration efficiency while reducing reliance on single-use plastic masks that contribute to environmental pollution.
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Researchers developed a durable superhydrophobic nanofibrous membrane using a novel nano-silica bubbled-structure approach, achieving water-repellent surfaces without hazardous coatings — with potential applications in filtration, self-cleaning, and environmental remediation.
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Researchers evaluated electrospun nanofiber filter inserts made from biodegradable polymers — PVA, PBAT, and PLA — as sustainable replacements for petroleum-based disposable face masks. PVA inserts achieved the best performance with 66.7% filtration efficiency, demonstrating that smaller, more uniform fiber diameters improve both filtration and breathability in reusable cloth-based masks.
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This review examines the development of biodegradable electrospun nanofiber membranes as alternatives to conventional plastic face masks. Researchers summarize progress on materials including silk fibroin, polylactic acid, chitosan, cellulose, and zein, which can achieve strong filtration performance. The study highlights that degradable nanofiber filters offer a promising solution to reduce the environmental burden of plastic pollution from disposable face masks.
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