Functionally Integrated Device with Robust and Durable Superhydrophobic Surface for Efficient, Continuous, and Recyclable Oil–Water Separation

Abstract

AbstractA cost‐efficient, universal adhesive layer‐involved strategy is demonstrated for the construction of robust superhydrophobic surfaces on a variety of materials. This strategy uses recycled rubber particles (RRPs) and low‐surface‐energy coating to generate superhydrophobicity, which are fixed on the substrates by a precoated E‐44 resin (ER) adhesive layer. Benefitting from the robust ER adhesive layer and wear‐resistant rubber particles, the ER/RRPs composite coated low‐surface‐energy coating (ER/RRPs/LSEC composite) shows high robustness under various harsh conditions including repeated abrasion, sunlight radiation, and acid/basic corrosion. When evaluated as functionally integrated device for oil spill cleanup, these superhydrophobic structures show excellent oil‐absorption and oil–water separation properties. For example, the copper foam device coated with the ER/RRPs/LSEC composite shows a high oil–water separating efficiency of 95% before and after mechanical abrasion. This strategy provides a new toolbox for constructing robust superhydrophobic surfaces with oil–water separation applications and offers a novel insight into the durability of artificial superhydrophobic surfaces.