Recent Advances in SiO2 Nanofiber Membranes for High-Efficiency Air Pollutant Removal: A Mini Review

Air pollution from industrial exhaust and mobile sources continues to threaten human health and ecosystems, creating demand for air-cleaning technologies that operate reliably under elevated temperatures and corrosive environments. Conventional polymer-based filter media often degrade under such conditions, limiting their applicability in industrial exhaust treatment. Electrospun silica nanofiber (SiO 2 NF) membranes and SiO 2 -based ceramic nanofibrous membranes have emerged as robust alternatives because of their thermal stability, chemical resistance, and mechanical durability. Beyond particulate capture, functionalization of SiO 2 NFs through metal-oxide incorporation, MOF-based modification, and surface chemistry tuning enables multifunctional pollutant removal by enhancing adsorption and catalytic conversion of gas-phase species. This mini-review summarizes recent advances in functionalized SiO 2 nanofibrous membranes, with emphasis on structure–property–performance relationships and functionalization strategies for multi-pollutant control. The influence of key operating conditions, including temperature and humidity, on filtration behavior is also discussed. Remaining challenges related to fabrication complexity, performance trade-offs, and long-term stability are highlighted, together with directions for improving scalability and durability. These insights provide a basis for advancing SiO 2 NF membranes toward practical applications in industrial exhaust treatment and indoor air purification. Graphic Abstract