Zwitterionic Polymer‐Grafted Superhydrophilic and Superoleophobic Silk Fabrics for Anti‐Oil Applications

Abstract

A highly anti‐oil fabric membrane is synthesized by surface grafting of zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA) onto the fabric surface. The fabric membrane is first enzymatically modified to create more reactive amine groups on the surface. A surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI‐ATRP) reaction is then performed to modify the fabric membrane surface with a dense PSBMA brush layer. Surface characterization indicates that the brush‐grafted fabric membrane exhibits increased surface roughness and improved superhydrophilicity. The PSBMA‐modified silk fabrics show a very large contact angle for oil droplets in water, and have excellent oil resistance in air and in water–oil mixtures.

Quick-Release Antifouling Hydrogels for Solar-Driven Water Purification

“…61 The LSAG's ability to create clean water from an oil-in-water emulsion is attributed to the existence of zwitterionic PSBMA. Its excellent superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity allows the LSAG to absorb water but repel oil droplets, 44,62 which is consistent with the antifouling testing. Finally, we show that LSAG can also be used to microplastics from contaminated water.…”

Recent Advances in Zwitterionic Hydrogels: Preparation, Property, and Biomedical Application

“…Zwitterionic materials are a class of materials that contain both cationic and anionic groups, with no overall charge (neutral). Zwitterionic materials can be divided into the following categories according to the monomer structural characteristics (as shown in Figure 3 a): (1) phosphobetaine with a phosphate group and a terminal quaternary ammonium group [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]; (2) sulfobetaine or carboxybetaine with a quaternary ammonium group and a terminal carboxyl or sulfonic group [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]; (3) zwitterionic polyampholytes [ 29 ]. For the first two kinds of materials, each side-chain unit in the polymer contains an equal amount of positive and negative charges, which is electrically neutral.…”

Unveiling the Layered Structure of Sulfobetaine Polymer Brushes through Bimodal Atomic Force Microscopy

“…Zwitterionic polymers have been of huge interest in the field of materials science due to their distinctive physicochemical properties for biomedical applications. , The zwitterion, which consists of an equal amount of positively and negatively charged groups, exhibits strong binding with water via dipole and electrostatic interactions in the polymer chains, resulting in strong hydration and high antibiofouling performance. − The applications for zwitterionic materials have been diversifying in recent years, including oil-repellant surfaces, , anti-fog and anti-frost, antifouling, , and self-healing elastomer . The properties of zwitterionic materials manifest into a wide range of phenomena that are influenced by other factors such as structural characteristics, spatial configurations, and environmental conditions. − However, there is still a lack of good understanding of many fundamental properties of zwitterionic materials, which hinders the further development of functional zwitterionic materials for various applications.…”

“…1,2 The zwitterion, which consists of an equal amount of positively and negatively charged groups, exhibits strong binding with water via dipole and electrostatic interactions in the polymer chains, resulting in strong hydration and high antibiofouling performance. 2−4 The applications for zwitterionic materials have been diversifying in recent years, including oil-repellant surfaces, 5,6 anti-fog and anti-frost, 7 antifouling, 8,9 and self-healing elastomer. 10 The properties of zwitterionic materials manifest into a wide range of phenomena that are influenced by other factors such as structural characteristics, spatial configurations, and environmental conditions.…”