Breathable triboelectric textiles with high efficiency air filtration and rapid self-disinfection properties for bioprotection and wireless biosensing

Abstract

The frequent emergence of new infectious diseases and the increasing difficulty of epidemic prevention and control have highlighted the necessity for advanced bio-protective materials. Herein, a breathable and waterproof triboelectric medical protective fabric (TMPF) with high air filtration efficiency, as well as rapid self-disinfection and biosensing functions were prepared. TMPF was mainly consisted of a filtration layer of silver nanoparticle-embedded polyimide nanofibers (AgPINFs) and a conductive support layer of AgNP/Ag nanowire (AgNW)/carbon nanotube (CNT)-coated PI fabric. As-prepared TMPF possessed the following advantages: (i) good water resistance and moisture permeability (≥17.2 kPa; 3569.9 m²·24 h); (ii) high filtration efficiency with 99.94% for PM 0.3; (iii) active microbicidal abilities with killing rates of ∼100% against bacterial including E. Coli and S. aureus and an inactivation rate of ∼100% against MS2 virus at an Ag content of 4000 mg/kg with 2 h contact; (v) a wireless real-time sensing ability for limb movement and fine biomotion such as respiratory and laryngeal movements such as breathing, coughing, swallowing, drinking, and speaking through TMPF-based wearable wireless monitoring system (18.7 g). As-prepared TEPF exhibited favorable moisture-penetrability, hydrophobicity, high filtration efficiency, and self-disinfection properties, as well as a self-powered biomotion sensing function, which showed potential applications in medical field.