The present invention relates to a carbon-based material for use in a piece of personal protective equipment and an air filtration system. The carbon-based material may function as a filter by providing a tortuous path for a pathogen to traverse. The carbon-based material may be used as a carbon-based heater that can reach a pathogen inactivation threshold temperature to enable heat inactivation of one or more pathogens. In embodiments where a piece of personal protective equipment includes a carbon-based heater, an insulating layer may be included to attenuate the temperature generated by the carbon-based heater from the face of a user.