Multifunctional Edge-Activated Carbon Nitride Nanosheet-Wrapped Polydimethylsiloxane Sponge Skeleton for Selective Oil Absorption and Photocatalysis.

Abstract

Developing green 3D porous materials integrating multitasking environmental remediation with high efficiency and reusability is considered to be a promising sustainable approach and is urgently required. Herein, we have successfully prepared a facile, ecofriendly, and robust multifunctional composite sponge of carbon nitride (CN) nanosheets wrapping an elastomer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) skeleton without harsh treatments. The composite sponge (CN@PDMS) exhibits excellent hydrophobic and superoleophilic properties with a water contact angle of 133.2°. This sponge also shows high selective absorption of organic solvents and oils with high recyclability after 10 absorption cycles. Furthermore, the CN@PDMS sponge has a high ability for demulsification of the oil-in-water emulsion as well. The as-prepared sponge displays high thermal stability, retaining 82.16% of its original weight up to 550 °C, and extraordinary prolonged stability in harsh corrosive solutions over 35 h compared with the pristine PDMS sponge. Additionally, the CN@PDMS sponge exhibits a high ability for adsorption and photodegradation of rhodamine B under visible light irradiation with self-cleaning and high reusability over 5 runs. Such a sustainable strategy would provide new ways for broad environmental applications.