Solar-induced self-healing superhydrophobic masks with photo-sterilization and reusability

Personal protective masks have been widely recommended to mitigate the transmission of respiratory diseases during a pandemic outbreak. However, common surgical masks cannot be self-sterilized for reuse, resulting in the increasing potential risk of second infection and higher economic costs. Herein, the solar-induced self-healing superhydrophobic mask (PCNTs-HD8) with excellent photo-sterilized and reusable capabilities is fabricated by a simple spraying technology. The PCNTs-HD8 exhibits remarkable superhydrophobic and photothermal proper -ties, enabling the potent synergistic antibacterial effects against both Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Benefiting from the excellent solar-induced self-healing super-hydrophobic properties, PCNTs-HD8 shows potential for reusable without losing the efficient synergistic anti-bacterial properties even after undergoing 12 times of etching-healing cycles. The PCNTs-HD8 also maintains almost the same water vapor transport rate compared with pristine surgical masks. This work provides an im-mediate strategy to mitigate the transmission of respiratory diseases while reducing economic costs and resource consumption.