Abstract
Commercial polyethylene (PE) fiber-based masks are currently used as personal filters for protection against various microorganisms. Due to the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic of 2020, the use of masks has become the critical mechanism in reducing the spread. The PE mask filter uses a sieve (geometry) in a spider web fashion to filter out microorganisms using Van der Waals atomic forces. However, the non-geometrical part of the filtration process is not fully understood. In this work, we utilized luminescent ultra-small silicon nanoparticles, which are Si-H or/and Si-OH terminated to examine how the filter operates at a chemical level. The particles were sprayed onto the fiber network by an atomizer and we used scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscope and fluorescence spectroscopy under UV radiation. The images and measurements clearly showed that the Si nanoparticles bonded to the PE fiber network. The results were analyzed in terms of chemical bonding between Si nanoparticle and fiber. Our findings suggest that the PE fibers could act as a chemical filter via hydrogen or hydrolysis–based bonding or via Si-C bonding, which is complementary to their physical filtration ability via the geometric sieve process.
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Acknowledgements
This publication is based upon work supported by the Khalifa University of Science and Technology under Award No. CRPA-2020-002.
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Khalifa University of Science and Technology under Award No. CRPA-2020-002.
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Ayman Rezk, Juveiriah M. Ashraf, Wafa Alnaqbi, Aisha Alhammadi:
Mask Experimental Setup and testing, Si nano spray, SEM images and paper draft.
Sabina Abdul Hadi:
Mask experimental setup, Si nano Spray, Physics of Mask image results and paper draft writing.
Ghada Dushaq Mahmoud Rasras:
PL and optics physics measurements, analysis and paper draft writing.
Tala El Kukhun:
Mask research, interpretation of results, paper draft writing.
Ahmad R. Nusair:
help with setup of mask, nano spray, and paper draft.
Munir Nayfeh:
Si nano fabrication and physics, physics of results and paper draft writing.
Ammar Nayfeh:
Main Advisor for project, oversaw all the tasks, and paper draft.
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Rezk, A., Ashraf, J.M., Alnaqbi, W. et al. Study of Polyethylene Fibers Used in Masks Via Luminescent Aerosolized Silicon Nanoparticles. Silicon 14, 6981–6991 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-021-01463-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-021-01463-z