Abstract: Provided herein are protective masks made with polymer-based materials and methods of forming the materials. Methods of forming the interlaced polymer-based materials comprise applying adhesive to a substrate, electrospinning a first polymer solution onto the substrate from a first group of spinning electrodes, electrospinning a second polymer solution onto the substrate from a second group of spinning electrodes, and applying hot air to dry the polymer-based materials electrospun from the first polymer solution and the second polymer solution to form the interlaced polymer-based materials.

Abstract: A novel fibrous membrane comprises at least one substrate layer comprising at least 80% by weight of microfibers that carry positively charged and/or negatively charged functional groups, and at least one layer of filtration material attached to the substrate layer, wherein the layer of filtration material comprises at least 80% by weight of nanofibers that carry negatively charged and/or positively charged functional groups. The fibrous membrane is able to remove or reduce the concentration of bacteria, viruses and heavy metals while maintaining relatively high water flow. A filter comprising the fibrous membrane and a method for manufacturing the fibrous membrane are also provided.

Abstract: A water filtration membrane is provided, capable of removing heavy metal ions, filtering out particulates, filtering out bacteria, as well as removing herbicides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from water. The membrane is composed of a mat of randomly oriented nanoparticle-coated nanofibers. The nanofibers are covalently bonded to a plurality of substantially uniformly-distributed ceramic nanoparticles embedded in or adhered on the surface of the polymer nanofibers through reactive functional groups. The ceramic nanoparticles have a pattern of deep grooves formed on the nanoparticle surfaces. The bonding of the nanoparticles to the nanofibers is sufficient to retain the nanoparticles on the nanofiber surfaces when water flows through the water filtration membrane. The diameter of the nanofibers is 50-200 nm. The size of the nanoparticles is <40 nm, with a zeta potential of ?40 to ?45 mV in a dispersion medium. The nanoparticle deep grooves have an average size of approximately 1.2 nm or less.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a laminated fabric structure comprising: a fabric layer; a nanofibrous membrane comprising a matrix of nanofibers; and a permeable adhesive layer sandwiched between the fabric layer and the nanofibrous membrane and comprising a filled portion and an unfilled portion. The permeable adhesive layer is able to combine the nanofibrous membrane and fabric layers together to provide significant protection on the nanofibrous membrane without sacrificing on the air permeability of the laminated fabric structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-layered interlaced membrane comprising at least one substrate layer including a plurality of first polymer-based microfibers; at least one nanofibrous layer including a plurality of second polymer-based nanofibers where each of the nanofibers has one or more nano-branches; at least one interlaced layer including a plurality of third polymer-based submicron fibers where each of the submicron fibers has one or more nano-branches and a plurality of fourth polymer-based nanofibers where each of the nanofibers has one or more nano-branches, wherein the third polymer-based submicron fibers are interlaced with the fourth polymer-based nanofibers; at least one submicron fibrous layer including a plurality of fifth polymer-based submicron fibers where each of the submicron fibers has one or more nano-branches.

Abstract: Nanomaterials (100) in particular HEPA air filter media. One embodiment is a nanomaterial (100) that includes a plurality of nanofibers (140) that form a randomly interwoven network defining three-dimensional pores (160) therein. The nanomaterial further includes a plurality of beads (120) with a bead diameter of 2-20 ?m that are distributed randomly within the plurality of nanofibers (140). The beads (120) support the nanofibers (140) to prevent the pores (160) from collapsing.

Abstract: A novel fibrous membrane comprises at least one substrate layer comprising at least 80% by weight of microfibers that carry positively charged and/or negatively charged functional groups, and at least one layer of filtration material attached to the substrate layer, wherein the layer of filtration material comprises at least 80% by weight of nanofibers that carry negatively charged and/or positively charged functional groups. The fibrous membrane is able to remove or reduce the concentration of bacteria, viruses and heavy metals while maintaining relatively high water flow. A filter comprising the fibrous membrane and a method for manufacturing the fibrous membrane are also provided.

Abstract: A water filtration membrane is provided, capable of removing heavy metal ions, filtering out particulates, filtering out bacteria, as well as removing herbicides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from water. The membrane is composed of a mat of randomly oriented nanoparticle-coated nanofibers. The nanofibers are covalently bonded to a plurality of substantially uniformly-distributed ceramic nanoparticles embedded in or adhered on the surface of the polymer nanofibers through reactive functional groups. The ceramic nanoparticles have a pattern of deep grooves formed on the nanoparticle surfaces. The bonding of the nanoparticles to the nanofibers is sufficient to retain the nanoparticles on the nanofiber surfaces when water flows through the water filtration membrane. The diameter of the nanofibers is 50-200 nm. The size of the nanoparticles is <40 nm, with a zeta potential of ?40 to ?45 mV in a dispersion medium. The nanoparticle deep grooves have an average size of approximately 1.2 nm or less.