Flexible, Elastic, and Superhydrophobic/Superoleophilic Adhesive for Reusable and Durable Water/Oil Separation Coating

Abstract

This study investigates a highly flexible/stretchable and mechanically durable superhydrophobic/superoleophilic coating for efficient oil/water separation and oil absorption. The coating is applied via a simple immersion process using a mixed solution of a biocompatible adhesive (ethyl cyanoacrylate, ECA), a highly stretchable polymer (polycaprolactone, PCL), and superhydrophobic/superoleophilic nanoparticles (fluorine-coated silica nanoparticles, F-SiO 2 NPs) in a solvent, followed by solvent evaporation and ECA polymerization. Polymerized ECA (poly-ECA) in the coating material strongly adheres the F-SiO 2 NPs to the substrate surface, while PCL bestows the rigid poly-ECA with high flexibility. A coated polyurethane sponge exhibits superhydrophobicity (water contact angle of >150°), while retaining robust mechanical stability and flexibility/elasticity. This provides an efficient means of cleaning oil spills with high selectivity, even after mechanical abrasion (>99% separation efficiency is retained after 120 tape test cycles and 50 rubbing test cycles), with excellent reusability.

Fouling‐Proof Cooling (FP‐Cool) Fabric Hybrid with Enhanced Sweat‐Elimination and Heat‐Dissipation for Personal Thermal Regulation

“…ECA is a widely used adhesive that polymerizes within tens of seconds in the presence of the nucleophilic reagent (Nu − ). [39,40] The polymerized ECA provides a strong adhesion force between the BN particles and fibers, avoiding the detachment of the particles (Figure S1 and Movie S1, Supporting Information). Multilayers of polyelectrolytes, including poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS), along with pentadecafluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were deposited on the BNtreated fabric to obtain the basal fabric (Figure S2, Supporting Information).…”

Research progress on eco-friendly superhydrophobic materials in environment, energy and biology

“…Polycaprolactone (PCL) and poly(lactide) (PLA) have become new candidates for the preparation of superhydrophobic materials due to their non-toxic nature, strong mechanical properties and good biodegradability. 120–124 Based on previous studies, Li et al 125 designed bionic superhydrophobic PCL composite membranes with hierarchical microspheres. The membranes were fabricated by electrostatic spinning and electrospray.…”

Robust and Multifunctional 3D Graphene-Based Aerogels Reinforced by Hydroxyapatite Nanowires for Highly Efficient Organic Solvent Adsorption and Fluoride Removal

“…In recent years, with the rapid economic development and global population explosion, the severe water pollution issue caused by vast industrial wastewater discharge, unremitting domestic sewage production, and frequent oil spillage accident has received major attention because of its grave detriment for the ecological environment and the sustainable development of mankind. − To address this troublesome problem, numerous physicochemical/biological treatment techniques have been widely proposed and investigated, including adsorption, oil skimming, membrane separation/filtration, in situ burning, photocatalysis, microbiological degradation, etc. , Among them, the adsorption approach has become one of the most promising methods due to its distinct advantages, such as the operation simplicity, environmental friendliness, and cost-effectiveness . Generally, based on the specific material dimensions, traditional adsorbent materials can be mainly classified into zero-dimensional (0D) powders or particles (e.g., activated carbon and TiO 2 ), one-dimensional (1D) fibers (e.g., jute fiber, kapok fiber, etc.…”

“…1−3 To address this troublesome problem, numerous physicochemical/biological treatment techniques have been widely proposed and investigated, including adsorption, oil skimming, membrane separation/filtration, in situ burning, photocatalysis, microbiological degradation, etc. 4,5 Among them, the adsorption approach has become one of the most promising methods due to its distinct advantages, such as the operation simplicity, environmental friendliness, and costeffectiveness. 1 Generally, based on the specific material dimensions, traditional adsorbent materials can be mainly classified into zero-dimensional (0D) powders or particles (e.g., activated carbon 6 and TiO 2 7 ), one-dimensional (1D)…”