Preparation and Performance of <scp> SiO ₂ </scp> Aerogel Composite Nanofiber Membranes for Air Filtration

ABSTRACT With the escalating severity of air pollution and its associated threats to human health, there is an urgent need to develop high‐efficiency air filtration materials to mitigate the risk of particulate matter inhalation. This study employed electrospinning technology to fabricate SiO 2 aerogel composite nanofiber membranes with enhanced filtration performance by incorporating SiO 2 aerogel into the spinning solution. The influence of SiO 2 aerogel content on the microstructure, thermal stability, filtration performance, and water resistance of the nanofiber membranes was systematically investigated. The results indicated that the composite membranes exhibited uniform fiber diameter distribution and maintained filtration efficiencies exceeding 99%. The membrane with 0.5 wt% SiO 2 aerogel content demonstrated an optimal balance between filtration efficiency (99.54%) and pressure drop (66.72 Pa). Furthermore, the prepared membranes exhibited excellent air permeability (62.55 mm/s) and suitable hydrostatic pressure resistance (613 Pa), which are beneficial for practical applications. This study successfully developed nanofiber membranes integrating high filtration efficiency, breathability, and hydrophilicity, contributing to reduced inhalation risks of harmful particles and holding significant potential for advancing the development and application of high‐performance air filtration materials.