Transparent and visible light-activated antimicrobial air filters from electrospun crystal violet-embedded polyacrylonitrile nanofibers

Bioaerosols pose significant risks to indoor environments and public health, driving interest in advanced antimicrobial air filtration technologies. Conventional antimicrobial filters often suffer from diminished efficacy over time and require additional binders to retain antimicrobial agents. This study introduces CV@PAN, a self-disinfecting nanofiber fabricated via electrospinning of crystal violet (CV) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN). The process effectively incorporated CV into the PAN framework, minimizing environmental release. We comprehensively analyzed the physical and chemical properties of CV@PAN nanofibers, including fiber morphology, size distribution, chemical composition, thermal stability, and transparency. The CV@PAN nanofibers exhibited an average diameter of 0.28 μm. The fabricated filter achieved a bioaerosol removal efficiency of >99.2% against Staphylococcus epidermidis, with a low-pressure drop of 401.6 Pa at a face velocity of 16 cm/s. The filter demonstrated an optical transparency exceeding 50%. Upon visible light exposure, the embedded CV generated reactive oxygen species, resulting in an antibacterial efficacy of >99.9%. These findings demonstrate the significant potential of CV@PAN nanofiber filters for air quality management and their promise as an advancement in antibacterial air filtration technology.