Janus fibrous membrane with enhanced air filtration performance and one-way water transport capability for advanced face mask filters

During the winter season, the discomfort of wearing face masks is exacerbated by the accumulation of exhaled moisture within the face mask, significantly impairing user comfort. Addressing this issue, our study focuses on the development of a high-performance air filtration material endowed with a one-way water transport function. Herein, we meticulously crafted four distinct electrospun Janus fibrous membranes and conducted a comprehensive evaluation of their filtration performance and on-way water transport capabilities. To substantiate our experimental findings, we also performed CFD simulations to access the simulated pressure drop and water penetration process of the fibrous membranes using the CFD method. These simulation results provided valuable insights into the practical performance of the fibrous membranes under varying conditions, offering a promising solution to enhance both filtration performance and functionality of filtration materials for face masks used in challenging environmental conditions.