Porous Fluorinated Graphene and ZIF-67 Composites with Hydrophobic-Oleophilic Properties Towards Oil and Organic Solvent Sorption.

Abstract

Designing hydrophobic-oleophilic sorbent materials have gained significant interest owing to its potential applications in self-cleaning technologies particularly oil-water separation. The crucial factors remain in the future research of designing materials with high performance hydrophobicoleophilic properties include facile synthesis, low-density, reusability and ecofriendly. Herein, we develop porous hydrophobic-oleophilic nanoarchitecture based on 2D fluorinated graphene (FG) supported cobalt based zeolite imidazole framework (ZIF-67) by solution assisted self-assembly. The key features of the work include in-situ growth and assembly of ZIF-67 over functionalized fluorinated graphene f-FG macrostructures, high surface area and solution processable and spray coated sponge. Methodical characterization of f-FG@ZIF-67 composites, followed by measuring water contact angles by contact angle goniometer. Furthermore, the assessment of sorption capacity of oils and organics followed by oil recovery from oil-water mixtures, excellent chemical and physical stabilities were displayed by these hydrophobic-oleophilic composites.