Electrospinning Machine| An Ultrathin Membrane with Bubble-Raft-Inspired Single-LayerNanofibrous Networks for Efficient and Low-Resistance AirFiltration

Challenge: Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) is a major global safety concern, severely impacting the ecological environment, human health, and the economy. Filter membranes are crucial for PM removal but face challenges in achieving high efficiency and low air resistance, leading to high pressure drops during effective filtration.

Method: Inspired by soap bubble rafts, Professor Ding Bin's team at Donghua University transformed a polysulfone (PSU) solution film supported on electrospun silica fiber scaffolds (EFS) into a monolayer nanofiber network via non-solvent-induced phase separation, creating an ultra-thin nanofiber network membrane.

Innovation 1: The monolayer network structure features small pore size (≈270 nm), ultra-high porosity (90.3%), and ultra-thin thickness (~800 nm). As a result, the membrane achieves 99.8% PM0.3 removal at an ultra-low pressure drop (<40 Pa).

Innovation 2: The membrane exhibits high transparency (>83%) and allows gentle breeze (3.2 m s⁻¹) to pass easily, enabling energy-efficient applications. It can be used for transparent window screens, face masks, and air purifiers.

https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202504379