Ultralight Electrospun Composite Filters with Vertical Ternary Spatial Network for High-Performance PM_0.3...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Particulate matter (PM) air pollution poses significant risks to public health and the environment.
• Current nonwoven filters face challenges in efficiency, energy consumption, and waste generation.
• There is a need for advanced filtration materials that are both high-performance and sustainable.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an ultralight composite filter with a vertical ternary spatial network (TSN) structure.
• To achieve high-efficiency removal of fine particulate matter (PM_0.3).
• To enhance filter sustainability through reduced material usage, energy-efficient regeneration, and improved comfort.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a TSN filter using a hybrid layer of microspheres and superfine nanofibers sandwiched between nanofiber scaffolds.
• Utilizing scalable one-step free surface electrospinning technology for mass production.
• Characterization of filter properties including porosity, areal density, airflow resistance, breathability, and infrared transmittance.

Main Results:

• The TSN filter achieved ≥99.92% removal of PM_0.3 with high porosity (≈85%) and ultralow areal density (<1 g m^-2).
• Significant material savings (≈98%) and reduced fabrication time (99.4%) were realized.
• The filter demonstrated excellent breathability (>80 mm s⁻¹) and infrared transmittance (>85%), indicating superior wearing comfort.
• Scalable mass production at 60 meters per hour was verified.

Conclusions:

• The developed TSN filter offers a high-performance, sustainable, and cost-effective solution for air filtration.
• Structural regulation of nanofiber materials is a viable strategy for designing advanced filter media.
• The technology is applicable to diverse areas such as window screens, respiratory protection, and dust collection.