Self-Charging Textile Woven from Dissimilar Household Fibers for Air Filtration: A Proof of Concept.

A proof of concept is demonstrated concerning self-charging fabrics for air filtration purposes based on common household fibers. Triboelectrically dissimilar fibers, such as wool and polyester, were interwoven into a single-layer fabric, so that local charges can be developed and partially retained at the junctions of the insulating fibers as a result of their constant frictional contact. Voluminous fibers that are typically used for knitting were chosen here, leveraging their broad availability and ease of use, so that they can be handwoven into a leak-free fabric, preventing unfiltered air to pass through directly. When tested for PM2.5 and PM10 removal, this hybrid fabric outperforms a single-material fabric made similarly from household cotton yarns. And its pressure drop and filtration efficiency were found to be in between those of a common surgical mask and a KN95 mask.