Here, we report a novel and simple approach to fabricate crater-like superhydrophobic leaf mesh for oil−water separation. Nanocomposite of SiO 2 and polystyrene (SiO 2 −PS) deposited on a naturally dried Tectona grandis leaf mesh showed excellent superhydrophobic and superoleophilic properties. The obtained multifunctional leaf mesh exhibited fast separation of various oils like petrol, kerosene, diesel, coconut oil from oil−water mixtures with separation efficiency greater than 95%, which lasts for more than 18 separation cycles. The prepared material can be used efficiently for the oil−water mixture separation for any oil with absolute viscosity of less than 55 cP.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.