Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) Based Super Hygroscopic Nanofiber Membrane for Indoor Dehumidification

Desiccant material is vital for dehumidification. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with high water vapor uptake and mild regeneration condition, shows significant advantage in dehumidification. However, the practical application of MOFs in the built environment has been a problem since existing practical application forms of MOFs (e.g., powder, granule, coating, etc.) have low utilization of material and may lead to agglomeration of MOF particles. Herein, we developed a new MOF-based electrospinning nanofiber membrane and achieved a high loading rate of MOFs. MOF nanoparticles, evenly distributed on the fibers, have high utilization since they can fully contact moisture in air. Then, according to the maximum equilibrium moisture absorption tests results, MOF electrospinning nanofiber membranes have significantly higher moisture adsorption ability than other common textile and porous materials in the built environment. Finally, we established a building energy model to evaluate the effect of MOF electrospinning nanofiber membrane on building energy consumption. The simulation results show that the MOF electrospinning nanofiber membrane has an excellent energy-saving potential. The latent heat load removal rate can achieve up to 40-50% in relatively dry climates by a purely passive manner.