Graphene Oxide Modified Microtubular ZnO Antibacterial Agents for a Photocatalytic Filter in a Facial Mask

Bacterial infections have threatened human health significantly due to the misuse of antibiotics and iterations of multi-drug-resistant bacteria. Inorganic antimicrobial ZnO agents can effectively solve the bacterial drug resistance and play an important role as commonly used photocatalysts in the fields of antibacterial, water purification, and air purification. Herein, graphene oxide (GO) modified ZnO microtubular composite photocatalytic antimicrobial agents (PAA) were fabricated via the optical vapor phase supersaturation and drop-spraying method, by which the photocatalytic activity was boosted and achieved more than 98% antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus under sunlight irradiation. The ZnO/GO PAA can further combine with a polypropylene-based photocatalytic filter for high antibacterial activity, rapid sterilization, and well reusability. Under a UV irradiation of ∼150 s, the antibacterial efficiency of a filter modified facial mask (F-Mask) degrades particles and bacteria up to 100%. The photocatalytic antibacterial F-Mask exhibits outstanding mechanical flexibility for over 300 bending cycles. This work provides a platform for the design of antibacterial filter materials to alleviate the social epidemic prevention pressure during the period of large-scale epidemics.