Increasing strength of electrospun nanofiber membranes for water filtration using solvent vapor

► Electrospun nanofibers are an emerging membrane material for liquid filtration. ► The weakness of nanofibers are a key obstacle toward their use. ► Improving fiber-fiber bonding in nonwovens is essential to increase strength. ► Exposing nanofiber nonwovens to solvent vapor solders fiber-fiber junctions. ► Both polysulfone and polyacrylonitrile nanofibers exhibit increased strength after treatment.