Electrospun nanofibrous membranes with asymmetric wettability for unidirectional moisture transport, efficient PM capture and bacteria inhibition

Jiwang Chen, Yuanyuan Rao, Xiao Zhu, Jiaxuan Wang, Xingbo Tang, Shasha Feng, Feng Zhang, Zhaoxiang Zhong, Weihong Xing

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

30 Scopus citations

Abstract

The performance of moisture management, PM capture, and bacteria inhibition are significant for air cleaning materials. Herein, a nanofiber composite PVDF/PAN-CTAB membrane with multiple functions was constructed via a facile electrospinning strategy. Incorporating cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) in the windward PAN layer simultaneously improved membrane moisture transport rate, antibacterial performance, and PM capture ability. The enhanced moisture management performance was achieved by regulating the microstructure of the nanofibers and the thickness ratio of the asymmetric wetting layers. Hydrophobic-hydrophilic interface superimposed force on water droplets was measured to thoroughly investigate directional water transport behavior. Consequently, the prepared PVDF/PAN-CTAB membrane possesses a water vapor transport rate of >13 kg m−2 d−1, PM0.3 removal efficiency of ≥99% with a low pressure drop of ∼84 Pa, and an E. coli inhibition rate of 99.99%. This work would pave the way for engineering asymmetric wettability structure to improve the moisture management performance of antibacterial air cleaning membrane, and provides a novel scientific sight on directional water transport phenomenon based on force test and analysis.

Original languageEnglish
Article number121006
JournalJournal of Membrane Science
Volume662
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Oct 2022

Keywords

  • Air filtration
  • Asymmetric wettability
  • Directional water transport
  • Electrospun nanofibrous membrane
  • PM removal

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