Nanofibrous Membranes Research Articles

Hydrophobically modified GO integrated PAN nanofibrous membranes for separation of water-in-oil emulsions

Nanofibrous membranes with super-wetting feature exhibit promising application for oil/water emulsion separation, but achieving high separation efficiency in harsh environments remains challenging. Herein, superhydrophobic/superoleophilic nanofibrous membrane based on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and hydrophobically modified graphene oxide (GO) was prepared by electrospinning technique. The multidimensional roughness that was produced by the overlapping of modified GO and nanofibers was crucial in producing superhydrophobic and superoleophilic wettability. For a variety of water-in-oil emulsions, the obtained nanofibrous membranes demonstrated outstanding oil/water separation performance. The maximum permeate flux reached 5135.8 L·m−2·h−1 with separation efficiency higher than 99.1 %. More importantly, the obtained nanofibrous membranes showed stable separation performance in strongly corrosive solutions or at high temperatures. This work presents a versatile way to fabricate functional membranes for the separation of water-in-oil emulsions.

Preparation of Functionalized Ethylene-Vinyl-Alcohol Nanofibrous Membrane Filter for Rapid and Cyclic Removing of Organic Dye from Aqueous Solution.

A functionalized ethylene-vinyl-alcohol (EVOH) nanofibrous membrane (NFM) was fabricated via co-electrospinning H4SiW12O40 (SiW12) and EVOH first, and then grafting citric acid (CCA) on the electrospun SiW12@EVOH NFM. Characterization with FT-IR, EDX, and XPS confirmed that CCA was introduced to the surface of SiW12@EVOH NFM and the Keggin structure of SiW12 was maintained well in the composite fibers. Due to a number of carboxyl groups introduced by CCA, the as-prepared SiW12@EVOH-CCA NFM can form a high number of hydrogen bonds with CR, and thus can be used to selectively absorb congo red (CR) in aqueous solutions. More importantly, the CR enriched in the NFM can be rapidly degraded via photocatalysis. SiW12 in the NFM acted as a photocatalyst, and the hydroxyl groups in the NFM acted as an electron donor to accelerate the photodegradation rate of CR. Meanwhile, the SiW12@EVOH-CCA NFM was regenerated and then exhibited a relatively stable adsorption capacity in five cycles of filtration-regeneration. The bifunctional nanofibrous membrane filter showed potential for use in the thorough purification of dye wastewater.

Facile fabrication of carbon nanotubes/zinc oxide decorated poly(vinyl alcohol) electrospun nanofiber membrane and its photocatalytic performance

AbstractThe carbon nanotubes/zinc oxide (CNTs/ZnO) nanocomposites were immobilized on the poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) membrane for highly reutilization rate in photocatalytic degradation of RhodamineB (RhB) based on the combination of electrospinning and ultrasonication treatment. The results revealed that the CNTs are successfully compounded with ZnO, and the surface of nanofibers was uniformly covered with CNTs/ZnO nanoparticles. Under visible light irradiation, the CNTs/ZnO@PVA nanocomposites displayed excellent photocatalytic activity with 98.4% of RhB degradation rate within 3 h illumination. In comparison with pure PVA, and CNTs/ZnO with equivalent loading capacity on CNTs/ZnO@PVA film suspended in aqueous solution, the synthesized CNTs/ZnO@PVA film degrades RhB dye more efficiently. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity of CNTs/ZnO@PVA nanocomposites did not change significantly even after five recycles, indicating a certain degree of reusability. The mechanism of enhanced photocatalytic activity was proposed. The as‐prepared flexible CNTs/ZnO@PVA nanocomposites could be employed as a promising material for the practical photocatalytic degradation of wastewater.

Assembly of MOFs derived Co-Mn bimetallic oxides on SiO2 nanofibrous membrane for indoor air purification

The development of highly efficient air purification materials contributes to acquiring quality indoor air that essential for improving physical health and life comfort. In this work, a Co3O4-CoMn2O4@SiO2 (COCMOS) nanofibrous membranes (NFMs) were prepared by thermal treating Mn-modified ZIF-67@SiO2 NFMs for efficient indoor air purification. The COCMOS NFMs exhibited 99.03 % and 99.999 % dust retention efficiencies for PM0.3 and PM2.5 with a low filtration resistance, respectively. Compared to the Co3O4@SiO2 (COS) NFMs (23 %), the HCHO removal efficiency of COCMOS NFMs was significantly improved at room temperature, reaching over 95 % within 25 min. The characterization results indicated that the thermal treatment of Mn-modified ZIF-67 induced the formation of a Co3O4-CoMn2O4 heterostructure on the surface of COCMOS NFMs. The Mn-Co bimetallic sites in this heterogeneous structure increased the amounts of oxygen vacancies and high valent cations and enhanced the redox properties of COCMOS NFMs, which contributed to its superior performance. This work provided insights on the design and preparation of highly efficient materials for indoor air purification.

Treatment of various saline wastewaters by membrane distillation with omniphobic polyvinyl alcohol membrane

An omniphobic membrane was fabricated to address the issues associated with traditional hydrophobic membrane wetting in membrane distillation (MD) and used to treat industrial high-salinity wastewater. An electrospun nanofiber membrane with excellent hydrophobicity (high water contact angle value of 157°) was fabricated by hydrophilic, biodegradable, and inexpensive polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) via electrospinning method modified by glutaraldehyde cross-linking, Al2O3 nanoparticles coating, and impregnated fluorination. Moreover, the resulting membrane presented satisfactory wettability resistance in treating solutions containing 20 % NaCl and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate. In comparison to commercial polyvinylidene fluoride membrane, the omniphobic PVA membrane showcased remarkable separation performance when treating coal gasification brine and acid mine drainage. Based on our findings, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the anti-wetting and anti-scaling properties of the omniphobic PVA membrane. Furthermore, we delved into an in-depth analysis and discussion of the mechanisms behind the low surface energy and multi-level re-entrant structures that contribute to these properties. The results indicate that the omniphobic PVA membrane holds potential for application in MD processes aimed at water recovery from industrial wastewater containing complex compounds.

Electrospun nanofibrous membranes with functionalized 2D nanofillers for efficient micropollutant removal from water

In response to emerging challenges in water pollution, such as the contamination caused by dyes and antibiotics, scientists have been driven to develop state-of-the-art remediation techniques. The electrospun nanofiber membrane effectively eliminates antibiotics and dyes from industrial wastewater. This research work primarily centres on creating electrospun membranes based on polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber membranes and mixed matrix membranes (MMM), PAN@MMM-1 and PAN@MMM-2, crafted through the electrospinning process. Enhanced membrane performance has been achieved by incorporating functionalized clay materials, alginate-bentonite (Alg-Bnt) and lanthanum-bentonite (La-Bnt) nano clay, as nanofillers. These membranes offer a combination of ease of use, high efficiency, energy and cost savings, and an environmentally friendly and ecologically beneficial nature. The study conducted a comprehensive analysis of the materials and membranes using a range of advanced technologies such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), and the plate colony counting method for assessing antibacterial activity. UV–visible spectroscopy and HPLC were employed to determine the concentrations of antibiotics and dye compounds in the feed and permeate. The results revealed that the PAN@MMM-1 membrane exhibited a water permeability value up to 18.8 L m−2 h−1 and achieved rejection rates of up to 99.08 % for BSA, 97.82 % for cephalexin, 98.23 % for diclofenac, and 97.24 % for sulfamethoxazole. Moreover, it demonstrated impressive rejection rates of 99.39 % for methyl orange and 96.77 % for methyl violet, highlighting its remarkable efficacy in purifying wastewater.

A Nanofibrous Polypyrrole Membrane with an Ultrahigh Areal Specific Capacitance and Improved Energy and Power Densities.

For conductive polymers to be competitive with carbon-based electrode materials, it is critical to increase their surface area and electroactivity. In this work, a thick nanofibrous polypyrrole (PPy) membrane with communicating interfiber spaces was prepared through one-pot interfacial polymerization for the first time. The electrochemical properties and conductivity of the membrane were studied with cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and a four-point probe. Its morphology, chemistry, and thermostability were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The areal specific capacitances measured between 0.0 and 0.8 V at 1 mA/cm2 were 19179, 13264, 7238, and 4458 mF/cm2 for the membranes doped with docusate sodium (AOT), camphor-10-sulfonic acid (β) (CSA), Cl-, and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS), respectively. The capacity retentions after 1000 cycles were 83, 74, 67, and 61% for the AOT-, CSA-, PSS-, and Cl--doped membranes, respectively. The Coulombic efficiency was above 99% for all of the membranes. They showed energy densities of 1.7, 1.2, 0.7, and 0.4 mWh/cm2 and power densities of 0.61, 0.75, 0.66, and 0.62 mW/cm2 for the AOT-, CSA-, Cl--, and PSS-doped membranes, respectively. The ultrahigh areal specific capacitance of PPy-AOT is due to its nanofibrous structure. A mechanism has been proposed to explain how this structure is formed based on the role of AOT as the surfactant. This nanofibrous PPy membrane is easy to prepare and metal-free and offers a very high areal specific capacitance, making it an excellent candidate to construct electrodes in pseudosupercapacitors.

Nanofibrous Polyacrylonitrile Membranes Coated with Nanosheets of Zn-Tetrakis(4-Carboxyphenyl) Porphyrin for Enhanced Pressure Resistance and Dye/Salt Separation

Nanofibrous Polyacrylonitrile Membranes Coated with Nanosheets of Zn-Tetrakis(4-Carboxyphenyl) Porphyrin for Enhanced Pressure Resistance and Dye/Salt Separation

Biomimetic Ag-modified core-shell nanofibrous membrane with enhanced solar absorption and water replenishment for efficient clean water production and antibacterial activity

Microorganism contamination of evaporators can deteriorate their performance during solar-driven water evaporation. Herein, we developed a biomimetic core-shell nanofibrous membrane with enhanced solar absorption, water replenishment, and antimicrobial properties via modification of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs). By mimicking the core-shell structure of natural pine needles, (1) the core of polyvinylidene fluoride hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) nanofiber, like the xylem of pine needles, can act as a support skeleton for dimensional stability; and (2) the shell of Ag-NPs-modified copper oxide (CuO) crystals (Ag@CuO), like the mesophyll of pine needles (photosynthesis for pine growth), can perform the photothermal and antimicrobial properties. The Ag@CuO nanofibrous membrane achieved increased solar absorption from 92.44 % to 95.88 % and decreased water contact angle from 36.1° to 0° after the incorporation of Ag-NPs. Furthermore, the Ag@CuO nanofibrous membrane exhibited stable evaporation rates of 1.31 kg⋅m−2⋅h−1 for 3.5 wt% saline water and 1.27 kg⋅m−2⋅h−1 for actual dye wastewater. Moreover, the nanofibrous membrane possessed excellent flexibility and robust adhesion of Ag-NPs due to the strong interfacial bonding induced by polydopamine. In addition, inhibition rates above 99.97 % against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli demonstrated the outstanding antimicrobial properties of the Ag@CuO membrane. In conclusion, the high evaporation performance, excellent flexibility, and outstanding antimicrobial properties enable the Ag@CuO nanofibrous membrane to be a good option for sustainable clean water production by treating evaporation media containing microorganisms.

Development of a multifunctional active food packaging membrane based on electrospun polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan for preservation of fruits

To mitigate environmental impacts in food preservation, the development of a multifunctional membrane for packaging is of importance. In this study, we have successfully fabricated a nanofibrous membrane using an eco-friendly electrospinning technique, comprising polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), chitosan (CS), and tannic acid (TA). The resulting nanofibrous membranes were crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (GA) and surface modified with ZnO. Our findings demonstrate that the crosslinking process enhances water resistance, reduces water vapor permeability, improves tensile strength (from 3 to 18 MPa), and enhances thermal stability (increasing decomposition temperature from 225 °C to 310 °C). Furthermore, the incorporation of TA and ZnO provides antioxidant properties to the membrane, effectively preventing food decomposition caused by UV-induced oxidation. Additionally, CS, TA, and ZnO synergistically exhibit a remarkable antibacterial effect with a bacteriostasis rate exceeding 99.9 %. The strawberry fresh-keeping experiment further confirms that our developed membrane significantly extends shelf life by up to 6 days. Moreover, cytotoxicity assays confirm the non-toxic nature of these membranes. The innovative significance of this study lies in proposing a robust GA-PVA/CS/TA@ZnO nanofibrous membrane with excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and multiple functionalities including antibacterial, anti-ultraviolet, and anti-oxidation capabilities. It has tremendous potential for applications in active food packaging materials.

Enhanced thermoregulation performance of knitted fabrics using phase change material incorporated thermoplastic polyurethane and cellulose acetate nanofibers

AbstractNanofibers act as carriers in systems containing functional materials produced via electrospinning method. By this way, it is possible to transport functional materials with polymer nanofibers, besides having a large surface area compared to their volume, the encapsulation process, which includes complex preparation processes, is eliminated here, and functional materials such as phase‐change materials (PCMs) can be conveniently integrated directly into the carrier material by electrospinning method. The resulting nanofiber membrane can also be used in combination with textile fabrics. This study aims to develop PCM containing nanofibrous membrane coated knitted fabric structures with heat regulation capabilities. Two types of PCMs, hexadecane and octadecane loaded into thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and cellulose acetate (CA) nanofibers, directly electrospun on cotton (CO), cotton/polyester (CO/PES), cotton/acrylic (CO/PAC) knitted fabrics for thermoregulation. These nanofiber‐coated fabrics were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning colorimetry (DSC), and their comfort properties were evaluated by water vapor and air permeability tests and compared with a commercial microcapsule impregnated fabric. According to DSC results, PCM incorporated CA nanofibers had better heat storage capacity than TPU nanofibers and microcapsule applied fabrics. Although PCM‐loaded CA nanofibers may not block airflow as effectively as TPU nanofibers, when a proper coating is achieved air permeability can be decreased to 21.70 L/m2/s, along with a heat storage capacity of 26.38 J/g and still having permeability to water vapor (%40).Highlights Phase change materials were integrated directly to the carrier material by electrospinning PCM integrated nanofiber coating reduced air permeability PCM integrated nanofiber coating did not block water vapor permeability Electrspun cellulose acetate +PCM coating had better heat storage capacity

A new way to construct multifunctional superhydrophobic coating and applications in anti-corrosion, self-cleaning, membrane distillation and Water/Oil separation

Superhydrophobic materials have prospective applications in the field of self-cleaning, anti-corrosion and anti-fouling. However, the methods of preparing superhydrophobic surfaces usually have many disadvantages, and the scope of application is limited. Therefore, it is particularly important to adopt a widely applicable method to construct superhydrophobic surfaces. In this work, a general coating method has been used to fabricate superhydrophobic that polyaniline (PANI), titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) and 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyltrie -thoxysilane (PDTS) has been chosen to modified polyimide nanofibrous membrane (PI NFM) (named as: PI-3). The PI-3 membrane exhibited a superior contact angle of 162˚ and ultralow adhesion of water droplets. Moreover, it not only displayed the properties of self-cleaning and anti-corrosion, but also had the broad application prospects in membrane distillation and oil/water separation. We conducted a series of tests, including contact angle measurement, roughness testing, wettability assessment, and oil-water separation performance evaluation. In the test of direct contact membrane distillation, it showed that the flux was always retained at beyond 10 L m−2 h−1 and the salt rejection was surpassed 99.26 %.

Emerging Applications of Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes for Liquid Foods

Emerging Applications of Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes for Liquid Foods

Response Surface Methodology to Explore the Influence Mechanism of Fiber Diameter in a New Multi-Needle Electrospinning Spinneret.

Multi-needle electrospinning is an efficient method for producing nanofiber membranes. However, fluctuations in the fluid flow rate during the process affect membrane quality and cause instability, an issue that remains unresolved. To address this, a multi-stage flow runner spinneret needs to be developed for large-scale nanofiber membrane production. This paper uses COMSOL finite element software to simulate polymer flow in the spinneret runner. From this, the velocity field distribution and velocity instability coefficient were obtained, providing theoretical guidance for optimal spinneret design. In addition, response surface analysis (RSM) was used to experimentally explore the process parameters, and then residual probability plots were used for reliability verification to evaluate the effect of each process parameter on fiber diameter. These process parameters can guide the controlled production of nanofibers during multi-needle electrospinning.

Antibacterial and antioxidant phlorizin-loaded nanofiber film effectively promotes the healing of burn wounds.

Burns usually result in damage and loss of skin forming irregular wound wounds. The lack of skin tissue protection makes the wound site highly vulnerable to bacterial infections, hindering the healing process. However, commonly used wound dressings do not readily provide complete coverage of irregular wounds compared to regular wounds. Therefore, there is an urgent need to prepare a wound dressing with high antimicrobial efficacy for the administration of drugs to irregular wounds. In this study, a chitosan (CS)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) composite nanofiber membrane (CS/PVP/Phlorizin) loaded with root bark glycosides (Phlorizin) was developed using an electrostatic spinning technique. The incorporation of phlorizin, a natural antioxidant, into the fiber membranes notably boosted their antimicrobial and antioxidant capabilities, along with demonstrating excellent hydrophilic characteristics. In vitro cellular experiments showed that CS/PVP/Phlorizin increased Hacat cell viability with the presence of better cytocompatibility. In scald wound healing experiments, Phlorizin-loaded nanofibrous membranes significantly promoted re-epithelialization and angiogenesis at the wound site, and reduced the inflammatory response at the wound site. Therefore, the above results indicate that this nanofiber membrane is expected to be an ideal dressing for burn wounds.

Development of pectin/chitosan-based electrospun biomimetic nanofiber membranes loaded with dihydromyricetin inclusion complexes for wound healing application

Accidents and surgical procedures inevitably lead to wounds, presenting clinical challenges such as inflammation and microbial infections that impede the wound-healing process. This study aimed to address these challenges by developing a series of novel wound dressings known as electrospun biomimetic nanofiber membranes. These membranes were prepared using electrostatic spinning technique, incorporating hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin/dihydromyricetin inclusion complexes. The prepared electrospun biomimetic nanofiber membranes exhibited randomly arranged fiber morphology with average fiber diameters ranging from 200 to 400 nm, resembling the collagen fibers in the native skin. These membranes demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, hemocompatibility, surface hydrophilicity, and wettability, while also releasing dihydromyricetin in a sustained manner. In vitro testing revealed that these membranes, loaded with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin/dihydromyricetin inclusion complexes, displayed higher antioxidant potential and inhibitory effects against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Furthermore, these membranes significantly reduced the M1 phenotypic transition in RAW264.7 cells, even when stimulated by lipopolysaccharides, effectively restoring M2 polarization, thereby shortening the inflammatory period. Additionally, the in vivo wound healing effects of these membranes were validated. In conclusion, this study introduces a promising nanofiber membrane with diverse biological properties that holds promise for addressing various crucial aspects of the wound-healing process.

Chromium adsorption efficiency by functional polymeric nanocomposite membrane: A case study for environmental sustainability

AbstractWe have designed and developed nonwoven fabric supported electrospun polymeric nanofibrous‐based membrane for robust filtration system for ecological sustainability of clean water. The fabricated nanocomposites filters were tested for the removal of chromium (VI) toxic heavy metal ions from contaminated feedstock water. The interpenetrating network like morphological structure obtained from pure and composite nanofibers‐based membranes have been thoroughly investigated to understand the structure–properties of highly entangled system. It has been found that incorporating functional moieties onto nanocomposite membranes significantly impacts the absorption efficiency of toxic metals. The pore sizes of the hierarchical geometries have been varied to insight into its impact on flow rate and efficiency of filtration. The strategy of interfacing the multifunctional composite polyethylene terephthalate nanofiber membrane supported on nonwoven fabric to generate heterostructures has found to provide mechanically stable platform for efficient metal ion removal. It has been found by BET surface area analysis that the nanofibers reinforced with functional nanomaterials has controlled pore geometry compared to pristine PET electrospun nanofibers which lead to higher absorption of metal ions. We have highlighted the importance of mechanically stable electrospun polymeric nanofibers membrane‐based mitigation strategies to meet the huge demand of potable water for long‐term environmental sustainability.Highlights Mechanically toughened freestanding nanofibers mat supported on nonwoven fabric. Functionally upgrade nanofibers by incorporation of carbon based nanofillers. Controlled porosity by morphological optimization for removal of contaminates.

Superoleophobic polyethylene glycol grafted graphene oxide/polyamide 6 nanofibrous composite membrane for highly efficient separation of oil/water emulsion

Graphene oxide (GO) has been applied for membrane-based oil/water emulsion separation processes due to its ease of functionalization, substantial surface area, and abundant hydrophilic hydroxyl and carboxyl functional groups. In this study, the dispersion of GO in polyamide 6 (PA6) was improved through grafting of GO with polyethylene glycol (PEG). The prepared GO-PEG was integrated into PA6 nanofibers at different loading levels and the oil/water emulsion separation of the resulting PA6/GO-PEG membranes was compared as a function of GO-PEG content. The homogeneous dispersion of GO-PEG at a 2 wt% loading level within PA6 nanofibers (designated as PA6/GO-PEG2) resulted in a nanofibrous composite membrane that exhibited exceptional mechanical strength (approximately 16.29 MPa), and remarkable hydrophilic properties (water contact angle of 12.30°). Moreover, a remarkable underwater superoleophobicity was exhibited by PA6/GO-PEG2 and provided an underwater oil contact angle of 150.41°. Notably, the optimal characteristics were showcased by the PA6/GO-PEG2 nanofibrous membrane, offering an impressive water flux rate of 813 L/m2h and an outstanding oil rejection efficiency of 99.26 % when subjected to an oil/water emulsion under a pressure of 1 bar. Furthermore, robust antifouling properties were displayed by PA6/GO-PEG2, in which 95.69 % of the water flux rate was maintained and reached 778 L/m2h, and excellent oil rejection efficiency remained at 98.59 % even after 15 cycles of oil/water separation. These results highlight the potential of the PA6/GO-PEG2 nanofibrous membrane as a highly promising candidate for practical applications in oil/water separation, owing to its superior performance and enduring antifouling characteristics.

Dual defense against membrane fouling for efficient and sustainable oil/water separation on a novel super-hydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic and catalytic nanofibrous membrane

Membrane separation technology is widely recognized as an efficient method for treating organically polluted wastewater in virtue of high performance and straightforward operation. However, the practical application of membranes is inevitably confronted with contamination issues, presenting a major challenge in terms of fouling resistance. To address this issue, a defensive-offensive dual-defense strategy based on wettability and catalytic ability control is proposed. With this concept, a novel nanofibrous membrane with a unique structure was successfully prepared through polyacrylonitrile (PAN) electrospinning, pre-oxidation, CoFe Prussian blue analogue (PBA) and polypyrrole (PPy) modification, and calcination processes. For the passive defense mode, the as-prepared membrane has shown good underwater-superoleophobicity for various types of oils, good separation capability for corresponding oil–water emulsions with retention ratios of above 99 % and fluxes ranging from 231.5 to 1524.2 L·m−2·h−1·bar−1, as well as organic solvent (dimethylformamide, DMF) resistance. For the offensive defense mode, this membrane exhibits well catalytic degradation performance for refractory pollutants with the assistance of peroxymonosulfate (PMS), which is due to the membrane being decorated with catalytic nanoparticles that contain abundant encapsulated ultra-small Fe doped Co3O4 (∼2.28 nm), and that is much smaller than the size of the pristine PBA (∼33.8 nm). Notably, the surfactants present in oil-in-water emulsions are found to be the main cause of membrane fouling, where the cationic surfactants exhibit the most significant fouling effect, while the introduction of photo-Fenton-like catalysis can endow the membrane with excellent antifouling performance and extended service life, and nearly a fully recover of emulsion separation performance was achieved. Overall, this work paves pathways to the design of advanced membranes for sustainable wastewater treatment.

An Easy Nanopatch Promotes Peripheral Nerve Repair through Wireless Ultrasound‐Electrical Stimulation in a Band‐Aid‐Like Way

AbstractLow‐intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) and electrical stimulation (ES) are effective methods that promote neural repair. However, ES usually requires electrode implantation and a power supply, which are an inconvenience to future applications. Meanwhile, it is difficult to combine ultrasound and ES through traditional methods. Herein, a nanopatch consisting of an oriented barium titanate (BTO)‐incorporated polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofiber membrane for electricity generation and a layer of graphene oxide (GO)‐doped gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) for neural interaction is developed. This band‐aid‐like BTO@PCL/GO@GelMA nanopatch has an excellent piezoelectric performance. In vitro, the nanopatches significantly promote axonal growth under LIPUS treatment. In a rat model of erectile dysfunction caused by peripheral nerve injury, the nanopatch is easily attached to a damaged nerve similar to a band‐aid. With the assistance of ultrasound, some mechanical energy is converted into electricity by the nanopatch, and synergistic neural stimulation of ultrasound and electricity is achieved. In this way, the nanopatch significantly promoted corpus cavernosum nerve repair, resulting in the improvement of tissue structure and erectile function as well as increased conception rate in female rats. In conclusion, the nanopatch offers a synergistic ultrasound‐ES for nerve repair easily and represents a novel strategy for peripheral nerve repair.