Abstract
To address the need for sustainable high-performance face masks, we demonstrate a strategy that utilizes zein for efficient nanofabrication. An electrospinning process controllably splits the fluid jet, allowing for the creation of face masks composed of fine, fractal-like nanofibers without the need for impurity excipients. This process, enabled by an dipole-force-induced interfacial fluctuation mechanism that we identified, results in face masks that achieve exceptional air filtration performance, surpassing that of commercial N95 masks, while reducing both weight and thickness by half. The significant reduction in material use grants the face masks high optical transparency, facilitating unobstructed facial recognition. Crucially, the pure zein composition allows for the reprocessing of the face masks, contributing to further resource conservation. This work provides a simple, eco-friendly solution for advanced personal protection and points the way toward sustainable wearable devices.
Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available within the article and its supplementary files. Any additional requests can be requested from the corresponding author. Source data are provided with this paper.
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Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant nos. 52275575, 52575458 to G.Z.), Fujian Provincial Department of Science and Technology (grant no. 2025J08024 to Z.S.; grant no. 2024J010011 to G.Z.), Science and Technology Plan Project of Shenzhen (grant no. JSGG20220831094600002 to G.Z.). The authors thank the help of Jiawei Qiang (College of Chemistry at Beijing Normal University) for the analysis of DFT.
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Z. Shao conceived and designed the research, carried out the experiments, analyzed data, and wrote the manuscript. Y. Liu and S. Huo analyzed data and assisted in the characterization. Q. Zhang, J. Chen, H. Chen, B. Wang, Z. Xu, and Y. Chang assisted in the characterization. S. Zhong, G. Zheng, and L. Lin conceived the research, supervised the project, and modified the manuscript. All authors discussed the results and reviewed the manuscript.
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Shao, Z., Liu, Y., Huo, S. et al. Semi-transparent and eco-friendly face masks for PM0.3 filtration via biomimetic-fractal nanofibers. Nat Commun (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-71413-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-71413-z
