Ethyl cellulose/menthone vein-like nanofibrous membrane for high-performance and refreshing respiratory protection

Efficient loading of liquid small molecules (LSM) on nanofibrous membranes is crucial for multifunctional integrated high-performance air filtration. However, due to the coupled influence of intermolecular interactions on the manufacturing process, it remains highly challenging to coordinately optimize the sustained release effect of LSM and the structure of the membrane. Here, a one-step green electrospinning strategy based on the adaptation between hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces is proposed. Ethanol and water are used as solvents to avoid toxicity. Ethyl cellulose provides abundant hydrogen bonding sites to reduce the release kinetics of menthone, while the van der Waals forces of menthone contribute to enhancing jet splitting behavior. Under an applied voltage of 24 kV, a feeding rate of 800 μL/h, a needle-to-collector distance of 15 cm, and a relative humidity of 50 ± 3%, the vein-like nanofibrous membranes are efficiently fabricated to enable the sustained release of menthone, achieving high-performance PM 0.3 filtration with a refreshing effect. The membrane exhibits a tensile strength of 0.90 MPa and an elongation at break of 11.77%, indicating adequate mechanical performance. Its quality factor (QF) is 1.83 times higher than that of the N95 mask. The use of completely bio-based materials and degradability makes the membrane more environmentally friendly. Furthermore, the efficient sustained release of menthone ensures a refreshing effect that lasts over 10 h. This research provides an efficient strategy for the green manufacturing of functional materials for high-performance personal protection.