Hybridization of nanofiber-modified fabrics with porphyrin-based nanosheets for nanoparticle capture

Abstract

Nanoporous filters covering large areas and exhibiting high strength are crucial for capturing small particles, such as viruses. However, the direct capture of nanoparticles requires the layering of numerous fibers, which significantly obstructs air flow. In this study, nanofiber-modified non-woven fabrics are hybridized with two-dimensional porphyrin-based nanosheets. Obtained through the interfacial reaction of a toluene/n-hexanol solution of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin with a CuCl₂ aqueous solution, the nanosheets feature regular nanopores of a few nanometres. Hybridization is achieved by stamping nanofiber-modified non-woven fabrics onto large-area porphyrin-based nanosheets, covering the mesoporous meshes of the nanofibers with nanopores. Moreover, this coverage is optimized by using nanosheets compressed to different degrees. These hybridized filters capture particles of several tens of nanometres, which are smaller than viruses in size, with a minimal drop in the differential pressure. This study demonstrates not only the utility of molecular nanosheets but also a new approach for hybridizing nanofiber-modified non-woven fabrics.