Breathing clean air is essential for human health, making air filters indispensable in homes, hospitals, workplaces, and industrial settings. However, despite decades of advances in filter materials and design, a major challenge remains. Capturing airborne particles is only half the battle; keeping them securely trapped is equally important. Conventional air filters rely on weak adhesive forces, allowing some captured particles to detach and re-enter the air. This reduces filtration efficiency, shortens filter lifespan, and highlights the need for smarter, more durable air filtration technologies.
To address this challenge, a study led by Professor Sanghyuk Wooh from Chung-Ang University, Republic of Korea and Prof. Chae Bin Kim from Pusan National University, Republic of Korea, developed a dynamic imine bond adhesive (DIBA), a self-renewing coating that combines the stability of a solid with the particle-grabbing ability of a liquid. Synthesized by crosslinking polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) through dynamic Schiff base chemistry, the coating allows trapped particles to sink into the adhesive layer, continuously exposing fresh sticky surfaces for sustained particle capture. The study was published online in the journal Advanced Materials on April 22, 2026.
The researchers spray-coated a thin DIBA layer onto commercially available air filter media and characterized its chemical, mechanical, and adhesive properties using rheology, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and microscopy. They then evaluated filtration efficiency, pressure drop, particle resuspension, high-speed airflow performance, and long-term durability.
The DIBA coating significantly improved both particle retention and filtration performance. By forming capillary-driven adhesive bridges around captured particles, it increased particle adhesion by nearly 70-fold while continuously renewing its adhesive surface. This translated into a 10–30% improvement in filtration efficiency across multiple commercial filter materials without increasing pressure drop, upgrading filter performance from minimum efficiency report value (MERV) 6 to MERV 11. The coated filters also maintained efficient particulate matter capture under airflow speeds of up to 20 m/s and delayed pore clogging, extending filter lifespan by nearly a factor of two compared to conventional filters.
The technology also shows strong potential for real-world implementation. Because the DIBA coating can be applied using a simple spray-coating process, it is compatible with existing commercial filter materials, enabling easy integration into current filtration systems. “ This technology could improve a wide range of filtration systems where both high capture efficiency and long operational lifetime are important, including HVAC systems, home air purifiers, industrial dust collectors, cleanrooms, automotive cabin filters, and personal protective equipment, ” says Prof. Kim.
Looking ahead, the researchers believe the technology could extend beyond air filtration. " The dynamic adhesive concept could enable next-generation filtration systems that capture pollutants more efficiently, require less energy, and operate significantly longer before replacement ," says Prof. Wooh. Beyond air filters, the same principles could be adapted for water purification, environmental remediation, dust-free manufacturing, and advanced particle handling.
Overall, the study demonstrates how a simple materials innovation can overcome a longstanding limitation of conventional air filters. By enabling stronger particle retention without compromising airflow, the self-renewing DIBA coating offers a practical path toward cleaner air, longer-lasting filters, and more sustainable filtration systems.
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Reference
DOI: 10.1002/adma.202600006
About Pusan National University
Pusan National University, located in Busan, South Korea, was founded in 1946 and is now the No. 1 national university of South Korea in research and educational competency. The multi-campus university also has other smaller campuses in Yangsan, Miryang, and Ami. The university prides itself on the principles of truth, freedom, and service and has approximately 30,000 students, 1,200 professors, and 750 faculty members. The university comprises 14 colleges (schools) and one independent division, with 103 departments in all.
Website: https://www.pusan.ac.kr/eng/Main.do
About Chung-Ang University
Chung-Ang University is a leading private research university in Seoul, South Korea, dedicated to shaping global leaders for an evolving world. Founded in 1916 and achieving university status in 1953, it combines academic tradition with a strong commitment to innovation. Fully accredited by the Ministry of Education, CAU excels in fields such as pharmacy, medicine, engineering, and applied sciences, driving impactful discoveries and technological progress. Its research-intensive environment fosters collaboration and excellence, producing scholars and professionals who lead in their disciplines. Committed to global engagement, CAU continues to expand its influence as a hub for scientific advancement and future-driven education.
Website: https://neweng.cau.ac.kr/index.do
About Professor Chae Bin Kim from Pusan National University
Prof. Chae Bin Kim is an Associate Professor in the Department of Polymer Science and Engineering at Pusan National University. His research focuses on covalent adaptable polymer networks, thermal management materials, pressure-sensitive adhesives, polymer recycling, and advanced functional composites. Before joining Pusan National University in 2019, he received his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin under the supervision of Prof. Christopher J. Ellison and also conducted postdoctoral research at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST).
Lab: https://sites.google.com/view/cbk-polymer-pnu/home
OCID: 0000-0002-7976-7612
About Professor Sanghyuk Wooh from Chung-Ang University
Prof. Sanghyuk Wooh is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Chung-Ang University. His research focuses on interface and surface engineering, with particular expertise in liquid–liquid and liquid–solid interfaces. His group develops bioinspired liquid-repellent surfaces, surfaces for liquid metals, next-generation high-efficiency air filtration systems, and interface-engineered electrochemical cells. He received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Chemical and Biological Engineering from Seoul National University, Korea, and completed postdoctoral research at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Germany.
Lab: https://wise-lab.net/
OCID: 0000-0002-6535-370X
Advanced Materials
Experimental study
Not applicable
A Super-Adhesive Air Filter With Capillarity-Mediated Spontaneous Particle Absorption via Dynamic Bond Exchange
22-Apr-2026
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.