Chem. J. Chinese Universities

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Regulating the Surface Microstructure of Nanofibers for Enhanced Moisture and Air Permeability

JIN Hao1, LI Xiang2, LIU Zhiyang2, ZHANG Yifan2, WANG Yan2, TU Kunkun1, HU Shuda1, LI Shihang1*, XU Huan2   

  1. 1. School of Carbon Neutrality Institute,  2. School of Materials Science and Physics, China University of Mining and Technology
  • Received:2026-03-17 Revised:2026-06-23 Online:2026-09-09 Published:2026-09-09

Abstract: In this work, polylactic acid(PLA)/cellulose acetate(CA)/Ag-doped titanium dioxide(Ag-TiO2)composite nanofibrous membranes(PCA NFMs) with surface micro-grooved structures were successfully fabricated via one-step electrospinning. The incorporation of CA, together with the differential volatilization rates of the binary solvent system, induced phase separation and formed axially oriented grooves along the fibers, significantly increasing the specific surface area and providing abundant adsorption sites for particulate matter capture. Meanwhile, Ag-TiO2 nanoparticles were uniformly embedded in the polymer matrix as charge traps, synergistically enhancing interfacial polarization and charge physical capture capability, endowing the membranes with excellent electret properties. As a result, PCA NFMs exhibited significantly enhanced electroactivity. The optimized membrane achieved a surface potential of 2.44 kV, a short-circuit current of 78.64 nA, and an open-circuit voltage of 69.52 V, all more than three times higher than those of pure PLA membranes, demonstrating stable charge storage and output capability. Filtration performance tests showed that the filtration efficiency of PCA NFMs for inhalable ultrafine particulate matter(PM0.3) reached 99.1% with a pressure drop of only 20.5 Pa, achieving a synergistic optimization of high-efficiency filtration and low airflow resistance. In addition, PCA NFMs exhibited excellent breathability and wearing comfort. The membranes possessed high water vapor transmission rate(7875 g·m?2·d?1), good air permeability(166 mm/s), and hydrophobic properties, benefiting from the synergistic effect of the interconnected porous network and the nanoscale rough surface structure, providing an efficient and healthy protective interface for long-term wear. Through the synergistic design of micro-groove construction and electroactivity enhancement, this work achieves the integration of high-efficiency low-resistance filtration, strong electrical output performance, and wearing comfort.

Key words: Polylactic acid(PLA), Nanofibrous filtration membrane, Surface microstructure, Electroactivity, Air permeability and moisture permeability

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