Respiratory-inspired electrostatic open-microfluidics for air purification

IF 32.1 1区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Nature Sustainability Pub Date : 2026-06-22 DOI:10.1038/s41893-026-01872-1

Hanxu Chen (, ), Ning Li (, ), Minhui Lu (, ), Junkai Wang (, ), Yuanjin Zhao (, )

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The human respiratory system can remove most pollutants from inhaled air through the abundance of mucus and cilia on curved airway surfaces. Inspired by such a gas–liquid interface, here we develop an electrostatic open-microfluidics (EOM) system for biomimetic air purification. The EOM system features electrostatic field-assisted polarization and deflection and dynamically refreshed gas–liquid interface of open-microfluidics. Due to the surface energy difference and tailored wettability, particulate pollutants in the air are preferentially captured at the gas–liquid interface, enhanced by extra electric field force. Besides, polarized gaseous pollutants can be activated by free radicals and electrons and removed by customized functional liquids. Additionally, herringbone-like open channels contribute to sufficient interaction between flowing air and liquids, further updating the interface and improving the removal efficiency. The application potential of the EOM system is demonstrated for air purification in domestic scenarios and lung disease prevention. Moreover, the operability and integration capabilities endow the EOM system with application potential for scaled-up industrial exhaust gas purification. Overall, this work provides a viable approach for efficient air purification. Efficient air purification is essential to improve air quality and safeguard human health. Inspired by the human respiratory system, the authors develop an electrostatic open-microfluidics air filter system for the efficient removal of airborne pollutants.

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用于空气净化的呼吸式静电开放微流体

人类呼吸系统可以通过弯曲气道表面的大量粘液和纤毛清除吸入空气中的大多数污染物。受这种气液界面的启发，我们开发了一种用于仿生空气净化的静电开放微流体（EOM）系统。EOM系统具有静电场辅助极化偏转和开放微流体动态刷新气液界面的特点。由于表面能差和定制的润湿性，空气中的颗粒污染物优先在气液界面被捕获，并在额外的电场力的作用下得到增强。此外，极化的气态污染物可以被自由基和电子激活，并通过定制的功能液体去除。此外，人字形的开放通道有助于流动的空气和液体之间充分的相互作用，进一步更新界面，提高去除效率。EOM系统在家庭空气净化和肺部疾病预防方面的应用潜力。此外，EOM系统的可操作性和集成化能力使其具有大规模工业废气净化的应用潜力。总的来说，这项工作为有效的空气净化提供了一种可行的方法。高效的空气净化对改善空气质量、保障人体健康至关重要。受人体呼吸系统的启发，作者开发了一种静电开放式微流体空气过滤系统，用于有效去除空气中的污染物。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Nature Sustainability Energy-Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

CiteScore

41.90

自引率

1.10%

发文量

159

期刊介绍： Nature Sustainability aims to facilitate cross-disciplinary dialogues and bring together research fields that contribute to understanding how we organize our lives in a finite world and the impacts of our actions. Nature Sustainability will not only publish fundamental research but also significant investigations into policies and solutions for ensuring human well-being now and in the future.Its ultimate goal is to address the greatest challenges of our time.