Facile and scalable method to synthesize MOFs/PET composite fibers for indoor VOCs adsorption

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are emitted into indoor environments pose significant risks to human health, necessitating air purification to protect individuals from VOC-induced harm. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are characterized by their extensive porosity and accessible metal sites and have attracted significant interest owing to their efficacy in VOC adsorption. However, the inherent difficulty in collecting powdered MOFs hinders their practical application. Thus, integrating MOFs with textiles presents an innovative solution for overcoming these challenges. In this study, MOFs/PET composite textiles (MOFs@STP-PET) were synthesized via an in-situ growth process on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber substrates using thermal crosslinking coating and pre-soaked seed hot-solvent methodologies. The capacities of the composites to adsorb and mitigate VOCs, including benzene and formaldehyde, were evaluated. The presence of carboxyl groups (–COOH) on the polyacrylic acid coating facilitated the chelation of metal ions via electrostatic interactions, providing a foundation for MOF growth. Moreover, the obtained textiles exhibited good adsorption performance. Notably, the 10 % breakthrough time of ethylbenzene on the U6N@STP-PET textile increased to 267.9 min, resulting in a maximum adsorption capacity of 4.3 mg/g. Uniformly anchored MOFs on the fiber surface ensured a high specific surface area of 292.3 m²/g, further enhancing adsorption capabilities. In addition, the textile exhibited excellent mechanical properties, with a tensile strength of approximately 20 MPa. This straightforward, effective, and scalable approach paves the way for the development of novel VOC adsorption materials and holds promise for improving indoor air quality.