Photocatalysis-Induced Self-Disinfecting Collagen Fiber Networks for Reusable and Sustainable Masks

Abstract

Respiratory infectious diseases pose a serious threat to public health, and the use of masks is one of the most effective measures for protecting humans from airborne pathogens. Most commercial masks lack self-disinfection and are not biodegradable. This creates significant challenges for reuse and sustainability. We have developed a natural collagen fiber network (CFN) with hierarchical fibrous structure as an alternative air-purifying fabric for manufacturing sustainable masks. However, its protein composition makes it highly susceptible to microbial contamination, significantly limiting its practical application. To address this issue, we employed an in situ synthesis method to load tannic/ferric (TA/Fe) aggregates onto the surface of collagen fibers in this study. The resulting CFN fabrics exhibit strong photocatalytic activity, generating reactive oxygen species under light and achieving a 99.99% bactericidal rate within 5 min of irradiation. Additionally, the photocatalytically induced self-disinfection of the prepared TA/Fe@CFN (TFC) exhibits excellent long-term stability. It maintains high aerosol capture efficiency (>99.92%) and strong antibacterial performance (>98.26%) even after 50 washing cycles. Importantly, the TFC fabric is derived from cost-effective and renewable animal hide, making it ideal for large-scale use in sustainable personal protective equipment. Additionally, the used TFC fabric can fully degrade under landfill conditions within three months. This study presents a reusable, sustainable, and high-performance alternative to conventional synthetic mask fabrics, with potential applications in the fabrication of functional textiles.