Fluorine-Free Nanofiber/Network Membranes with Interconnected Tortuous Channels for High-Performance...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Fluoride use in fibrous membranes presents environmental and health risks.
• Existing membranes face trade-offs between liquid repellency and breathability.
• High fluorine dependence limits sustainable applications in protective clothing and desalination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop high-performance, fluorine-free nanofiber membranes.
• To achieve both liquid repellency and breathability without fluorine.
• To provide an eco-friendly alternative for filtration and separation.

Main Methods:

• Electro-coating-netting technique for membrane fabrication.
• Manipulation of electrospun jets and electret polarization for scaffold creation.
• Coating of long-chain alkyl precursors to form 2D nanowire networks.

Main Results:

• Developed fluorine-free membranes with small pore sizes (~460 nm) and tortuous channels.
• Achieved a high water contact angle (~138°) for excellent liquid repellency (125 kPa).
• Demonstrated high vapor permeability (4206 g m^-2 d^-1) and elastic elongation (300%).

Conclusions:

• The developed membranes provide a sustainable, high-performance solution for liquid repellency and breathability.
• This fluorine-free approach mitigates environmental bioaccumulation threats.
• The technology offers potential for advanced protective clothing and desalination applications.