High-performance electrospun particulate matter (PM) filters embedded with self-polarizable tetragonal BaTiO3 nanoparticles

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Switzerland : 1996), 2022-12, Vol.450, p.138340, Article 138340
• Main Authors: Kim, Byeunggon, Jang, Yunseon, Kim, Juhyeon, Kang, Su Kyung, Song, Jungeun, Kim, Dong-Wook, Jang, Seohyeon, Nam, Inho, Lee, Pyung Soo, Jeong, Soo-Hwan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Barium titanate; Electrospinning; Nanofiber network; Particulate matter; Polyimide; Transparent air filter
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2022.138340

[Display omitted] •High-performance nanoporous filters for PM2.5 removal was developed.•Electrospun fiber and barium titanate nanocrystals were employed for the filter.•The tetragonal phase of barium titanate enhanced the PM2.5 capture efficiency of the filter.•The filter exhibited a quality factor (QF) of ∼0.77 Pa−1, outperforming existing filters (0.2–0.3 Pa−1) This study developed a novel transparent filter with a high particulate matter (PM) removal efficiency and low airflow resistance for use in windows. The main idea of this filter is to combine the ability of electrospun nanofiber (NF) structures to minimize airflow resistance with the unique self-polarizability of tetragonal BaTiO3 (t-BTO) nanoparticles, which enables the capture of PM through electrostatic interactions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation predicted the self-polarization of t-BTO, and the presence of static electricity on the NF filters with t-BTO was confirmed by Kelvin probe force microscopy and electrostatic force measurement. Their PM removal efficiency and airflow resistance were dependent on the t-BTO loading and filter transparency. The filter with 20% t-BTO and 90% transparency exhibited a high PM removal efficiency (∼99.1% for PM10–2.5 and ∼98.9% for PM2.5) and a pressure drop of