Conclusion

In this study, we introduced a transparent copper nanowire air filter, capable of airborne particle capturing and bacterial sterilizing, meriting from the percolated conductive nanowire network and antibacterial copper. Particulate matter and bacteria can be effectively filtered by narrow-sized pores of CNAF. Filtration performance for submicrometer particles was greatly enhanced up to 93.4% by an electrostatic filtration mechanism with a lower pressure drop than a commercial N95 mask. The oligodynamic effect of CuNWs effectively suppressed the growth of E. coli on CNAF, compared to that on the N95 mask. Moreover, antibacterial efficiency for G. anodireducens was greatly enhanced up to 99.3% within 10 min at 100 °C with the assistance of Joule-heating. CNAF can be reutilized by a facile cleaning process retaining a high filtration efficiency of 95.9% at the fifth cycle. CNAF also maintained high thermal antibacterial performance for five cycles, proving active sterilization can be steadily carried out. We demonstrated CNAF integrated face mask with high transparency and stable Joule-heating operation. Besides, we expect that the fabrication of CNAF could be more scalable through similar kinds of solution-based processes such as roll-to-roll (R2R) and slot-die coating. We trust that this multifunctional CNAF could be a powerful tool for a worldwide peril provoked by PM and contagious microbial, maintaining social connectedness.