Flexible, mesoporous, and monodispersed metallic cobalt-embedded inorganic nanofibrous membranes enable ultra-fast and high-efficiency killing of bacteria

Abstract

Severe emerging infectious diseases, deriving from the contamination of pathogenic bacteria, are threatening human’s survival and development. Metal-embedded inorganic porous material with large mesopores and high flexibility, has proven to be one of the most promising activators of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) for the high-efficiency pathogenic bacteria elimination. However, there still exists huge challenges to develop such materials. Herein, a robust strategy was reported to create flexible metallic cobalt (Co)-embedded inorganic nanofibrous membranes (CINMs) with interconnected mesoporous structures and monodispersed Co nanoparticles, for the first time, by double-template electrospinning approach and in situ carbonization reduction method. The monodispersed Co particles throughout fibers could activate PMS to effectively produce ROS, enabling the complete bacterial inactivation with a 7 log reduction within only 3 min. Benefitting from the integrated features of high porosity, robust mechanical property, and rapid ROS production, the obtained CINMs exhibit an ultra-high bactericidal efficiency of 99.99999% and a high permeate flux of 3.4 × 104 L m−2 h−1 merely driven by gravity (≈1.2 kPa). Moreover, a novel CINMs/PMS-based spray type sterilizer was successfully created for the convenient and high-efficiency sterilization of solid surfaces, which could completely inactivate bacteria on the surfaces after being sprayed for 10 s. The successful synthesis of such fascinating materials may shed light on designing new types of inorganic nanofiber-based antimicrobials for various public health and environment protection.