Self-feeding needleless electrospinning of cross-linked nanofibrous materials for high-performance air filtration

Abstract

Nanofibrous materials exhibit unique advantages in air filtration due to their high porosity, excellent pore connectivity, and large specific surface area. Electrospinning technology is the primary method for producing nanofibers. This study presents a novel needleless electrospinning system that features a unique self-feeding ability for polymer solution and generates fiber jets from a narrow self-feeding needleless, ensuring solution stability and high fiber productivity. This system combines the fiber quality advantage of traditional needle electrospinning with the high productivity of needleless electrospinning. In addition, by introducing melamine-formaldehyde (MF) as a crosslinking agent in the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer solution, the mechanical and waterproof properties of PVA nanofibers are improved. Experimental results indicate that the MF-PVA nanofibrous membrane exhibits excellent air filtration performance with high filtration efficiency (99.9%) and low air resistance (43 Pa), making it suitable for various applications such as face masks, protective clothing, and air filters.