Vapor-induced Phase Separation Research Articles

Preparation and modification of PVDF membrane via VIPS method for membrane distillation

Membrane distillation (MD) is a promising technology for treating high-salinity mine water. However, MD membranes are known to have low membrane flux and are prone to fouling. In this study, we used the cost-effective and controllable vapor-induced phase separation (VIPS) technology to prepare polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes, replacing the traditional immersion precipitation method and optimizing the membrane structure by including LiCl and acetone as porogen in the casting solution. The results showed that the membrane prepared using the VIPS method exhibited a highly open interconnected porous surface. Unlike traditional MD membranes with a dense epidermal layer and large finger-like pores, these optimized membranes had a symmetrical and uniform internal structure, leading to a high flux of 8.62 kg·(m2·h)−1 during direct contact membrane distillation testing. Different porogens produced varied results on the VIPS process and varying effects on membrane structure. The use of LiCl promoted the formation of PVDF β-phase, resulting in a decrease in the number of spherical nodules on the membrane surface, as well as improved density and smoothness. Consequently, this reduced fouling risk during membrane distillation while slightly decreasing membrane flux. On the other hand, acetone rapidly evaporated during the VIPS process, facilitating pre-gelatinization and α-phase formation of PVDF. This concurrent effect effectively restricted excessive nodule growth on the membrane surface, endowing the membrane with antifouling capabilities while preserving high flux.

Rapid attainment of full wettability through surface PEGylation of hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride membranes via spray-coating for enhanced anti-biofouling performances

This manuscript explores the development of antifouling membranes fabricated by vapor-induced phase separation (VIPS) process and their spray-coating modification with an aqueous solution of a copolymer comprising butyl methacrylate and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate, designated as poly(BMA-r-PEGMA). An initial optimization phase focused on improving the modification quality, with the aim of enhancing the wettability on both the top and bottom surfaces of the membranes, despite spraying on the top surface only. Our findings reveal that a sprayed solution concentration of 10 mg/mL, a pressure of 0.25 MPa, and a scan rate of 3000 mm/min achieved a decrease in water contact angle to 0 in less than 12 s for both membrane surfaces (the top surface directly exposed to the spray, and the bottom surface facing the instrument stage), suggesting that the spray-coating modifies the entire membrane’s bulk. The presence of the copolymer on both surfaces was also evidenced by FTIR and XPS tests. Further biofouling assessments demonstrated the performances of the optimized membrane (OM). In static attachment tests, the OM exhibited a high reduction in Escherichia coli adhesion, with less than 10 % adhering bacteria, compared to unmodified membranes. During the filtration of bacteria-containing wastewater, the OM boasted a flux recovery ratio approaching 60 % (against less than 40 % for a commercial hydrophilic membrane), a rejection rate of 99.3 %, and a water permeability of 2500 LMH/bar. Moreover, the OM was stable over a 4-week period, with a resistance to E. coli attachment remaining similar to prior immersion. These findings underscore the significant potential of spray-coating to develop stable and effective antifouling microfiltration membranes for the removal of microorganisms from wastewater.

Vapor-induced phase-separation-enabled versatile direct ink writing

Versatile printing of polymers, metals, and composites always calls for simple, economic approaches. Here we present an approach to three-dimensional (3D) printing of polymeric, metallic, and composite materials at room conditions, based on the polymeric vapor-induced phase separation (VIPS) process. During VIPS 3D printing (VIPS-3DP), a dissolved polymer-based ink is deposited in an environment where nebulized non-solvent is present, inducing the low-volatility solvent to be extracted from the filament in a controllable manner due to its higher chemical affinity with the non-solvent used. The polymeric phase is hardened in situ as a result of the induced phase separation process. The low volatility of the solvent enables its reclamation after the printing process, significantly reducing its environmental footprint. We first demonstrate the use of VIPS-3DP for polymer printing, showcasing its potential in printing intricate structures. We further extend VIPS-3DP to the deposition of polymer-based metallic inks or composite powder-laden polymeric inks, which become metallic parts or composites after a thermal cycle is applied. Furthermore, spatially tunable porous structures and functionally graded parts are printed by using the printing path to set the inter-filament porosity as well as an inorganic space-holder as an intra-filament porogen.

Dual resistance Janus PDA/patterned PVDF membrane for membrane distillation with early wetting detection using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Membrane distillation (MD) is highly efficient in separating and removing water pollutants; however, it is susceptible to membrane wetting and fouling especially when treating low-surface tension pollutants such as oils and surfactants. To address these limitations, we fabricated a Janus polydopamine (PDA)/patterned polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane with anti-wetting and anti-fouling properties via non-solvent- and vapor-induced phase separation. In the MD test with a NaCl feed solution with hourly sodium dodecyl sulfate injection, the Janus membrane with the hydrophobic patterned PVDF layer significantly delayed membrane wetting with only a slight trade-off in flux - an 8.6 % decrease in water vapor flux. Also, in the MD test using a NaCl feed solution containing 1000 mg L−1 of canola oil, the hydrophilic PDA layer of the Janus membrane effectively prevented the interaction between oil and the membrane surface. The wetting progression of the Janus membrane was systemically monitored using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to identify the mechanism of its wetting behaviour and to detect and analyse the different wetting stages (i.e., non-wetting, partial wetting, and full wetting). Therefore, unlike conventional electrical conductivity measurement methods, the wetting front estimated using EIS enabled a more precise wetting detection during the DCMD operation.

Fabrication of monolithic omniphobic PVDF membranes based on particle stacking structure for robust and efficient membrane distillation

Robust omniphobic membranes have attracted great attention in improving the continuous service performance of the membrane distillation (MD) in treating high salinity wastewater. However, the fabrication of omniphobic membranes commonly undergoes complex procedures of modification including the construction of rough structures and post-modification using low-surface-energy substances. Herein, monolithic omniphobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes were conveniently constructed by the combination of porous membranes possess particle stacking structure generated by a one-step vapor-induced phase separation (VIPS) procedure with subsequent surface perfluorination modification. The water contact angle, soybean oil contact angle, and low-surface-tension ethanol contact angle of the perfluorinated modified membrane increased from 139.6°, 45°, and ∼0° of the original membrane to 153°, 141°, and 110°, respectively. In addition, the LEP of the perfluorinated membrane is as high as 0.32 MPa, which is higher than the 0.22 MPa of the original membrane. More importantly, the monolithic omniphobic membrane can maintain a stable water flux without deteriorating salt rejection rate during the entire MD testing due to its high specific surface area, high porosity, three-dimensional micro/nano hierarchical structure, and adjustable pore size. This study offers useful insights for constructing monolithic omniphobic membranes for efficient and robust MD processes without additional nanoparticle loading procedure.

Polyvinylidene difluoride membranes with a broad time window for membrane formation via vapor induced phase separation: Fabricating, modifying, and separation properties

Non-solvent-induced phase separation is a significantly important method for the fabrication of polymer membranes for water treatment. However, the rather short time of phase separation causes serious trouble for engineering repeatable and controllable surfaces, which affects the separation performances of the membranes. Here, vapor-induced phase separation (VIPS) with a broad time window for membrane formation was employed for the fabrication of polyvinylidene difluoride-graft-poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PVDF-g-PNIPAM) membranes. Efforts were made to study the effects of exposure time of a liquid film to water vapor (te), relative humidity of water vapor (RH), dissolution temperature of the polymer (Td), and other parameters on the microstructures of the obtained membranes. It can be found that membranes tend to evolve from dense/smooth to porous/rough with te, RH, and Td, which is associated with the development of the crystallinity and the β-crystal of PVDF. Furthermore, the pure water flux of membranes with spherical-like surfaces increases significantly, despite hydrophobicity surfaces, highlighting the efficiency of the pore structure. The rough membranes were further decorated with hydrophilic β-FeOOH nanorods, which endowed the surfaces with underwater superoleophobicity, exhibiting anti-oil fouling and efficient separation for oil-in-water emulsion. Overall, the present work suggests that the VIPS process can be readily employed to construct PVDF membranes with controllable surface microstructures, which provides an excellent platform for further modification.

Zwitterionic Tröger's Base Microfiltration Membrane Prepared via Vapor-Induced Phase Separation with Improved Demulsification and Antifouling Performance.

The fouling of separation membranes has consistently been a primary factor contributing to the decline in membrane performance. Enhancing the surface hydrophilicity of the membrane proves to be an effective strategy in mitigating membrane fouling in water treatment processes. Zwitterionic polymers (containing an equimolar number of homogeneously distributed anionic and cationic groups on the polymer chains) have been used extensively as one of the best antifouling materials for surface modification. The conventional application of zwitterionic compounds as surface modifiers is intricate and inefficient, adding complexity and length to the membrane preparation process, particularly on an industrial scale. To overcome these limitations, zwitterionic polymer, directly used as a main material, is an effective method. In this work, a novel zwitterionic polymer (TB)-zwitterionic Tröger's base (ZTB)-was synthesized by quaternizing Tröger's base (TB) with 1,3-propane sultone. The obtained ZTB is blended with TB to fabricate microfiltration (MF) membranes via the vapor-induced phase separation (VIPS) process, offering a strategic solution for separating emulsified oily wastewater. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), water contact angle, and zeta potential measurements were employed to characterize the surface of ZTB/TB blended membranes, assessing surface morphology, charge, and hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties. The impact of varying ZTB levels on membrane surface morphology, hydrophilicity, water flux, and rejection were investigated. The results showed that an increase in ZTB content improved hydrophilicity and surface roughness, consequently enhancing water permeability. Due to the attraction of water vapor, the enrichment of zwitterionic segments was enriched, and a stable hydration layer was formed on the membrane surface. The hydration layer formed by zwitterions endowed the membrane with good antifouling properties. The proposed mechanism elucidates the membrane's proficiency in demulsification and the reduction in irreversible fouling through the synergistic regulation of surface charge and hydrophilicity, facilitated by electrostatic repulsion and the formation of a hydration layer. The ZTB/TB blended membranes demonstrated superior efficiency in oil-water separation, achieving a maximum flux of 1897.63 LMH bar-1 and an oil rejection rate as high as 99% in the oil-water emulsion separation process. This study reveals the migration behavior of the zwitterionic polymer in the membrane during the VIPS process. It enhances our comprehension of the antifouling mechanism of zwitterionic membranes and provides guidance for designing novel materials for antifouling membranes.

Preparation of NaCl Particles Added Polyvinylidene Fluoride Microporous Filter and a Simple Filtration Device

Clean and pollution-free water plays a crucial role in human metabolism and is essential for everyone’s daily life. However, with industrialization, a significant amount of sewage has been produced for many years. Water resources tend to become stressed when the rate of sewage production speed is purified. Many researchers are working on sewage purification to eliminate this hidden danger. It is urgent to find an efficient, high-speed, and environmental way to purify sewage. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of pore morphology on filtration. In addition, a Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-microporous filter (MPF) based on non-solvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) and vapor-induced phase separation (VIPS) methods was designed, the morphology and properties of a series of sodium chloride particles (NaCl-ps) added PVDF-MPF was researched, and a simple semi-automatic filtration device based on the character of this PVDF-MPF was manufactured. According to the light transmittance of filtered sewage through PVDF-MPF and NaCl-ps added PVDF-MPF, both PVDF-MPFs can remove particles in sewage. However, after adding NaCl-ps, the purification capacity of PVDF-MPF is higher than that of PVDF-MPF without adding NaCl-ps. The addition of NaCl-ps changes the morphology and improves the sewage purification capacity of PVDF-MPF.

Textured nanofibers inspired by nature for harvesting biomechanical energy and sensing biophysiological signals

Flexible electronics are emerging as a promising new platform for wearables; however, their practical utility is hindered by the limited battery life of electronic devices and the need for frequent battery replacements. Here, we report self-powered, flexible, permeable, tough, and lightweight biomechanical energy harvesting and biophysiological sensing devices using textured nanofibers for wearable electronics applications. The textured structure draws inspiration from two major sources of nature: the interior porous structure of jute fibers and the rough bark texture of trees. Interior pores are introduced to the nanofibers to increase compressibility and breathability like jute fibers. The inspiration from the rough bark texture also leads to a wrinkled surface morphology of the nanofibers to expand the surface area and consequently enhance toughness. To design and fabricate such a textured structure, the vapor-induced phase separation mechanism and electrospinning technique are employed within a controllable high humidity environment. Consequently, the textured nanofiber-based devices exhibit a well-rounded performance in electrical, mechanical, and physical properties, specifically demonstrating a significantly enhanced piezoelectric performance with more than two-fold electrical generation. These textured devices not only effectively harvest biomechanical energy from human movement but also demonstrate sensing capability for self-powered multifunctional biophysiological monitoring applications by leveraging the same piezoelectric mechanism. The novel design strategy for the textured nanofibers and their resultant balanced performance promotes the versatility and practical applicability of piezoelectric fibrous energy harvesting and sensing devices, contributing to the development of next-generation flexible and wearable electronics.

Room-temperature endogenous lubricant-infused slippery surfaces by evaporation induced phase separation.

We present a novel approach to fabricate endogenous slippery lubricant-infused porous surfaces (eSLIPS) at room temperature using an evaporation-induced phase separation process. The ternary coating system, comprising ethylene-propylene copolymer, caprylyl methicone, and n-hexane, forms a porous structure in situ infiltrated with lubricant, resulting in surfaces with remarkable anti-fouling and anti-icing properties.

A Ti3C2 MXene-integrated near-infrared-responsive multifunctional porous scaffold for infected bone defect repair.

Infected bone defect repair has long been a major challenge in orthopedic surgery. Apart from bacterial contamination, excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lack of osteogenesis ability also threaten the defect repair process. However, few strategies have been proposed to address these issues simultaneously. Herein, we designed and fabricated a near-infrared (NIR)-responsive, hierarchically porous scaffold to address these limitations in a synergetic manner. In this design, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) were used to fabricate the porous PMMA/PEI scaffolds via the anti-solvent vapor-induced phase separation (VIPS) process. Then, Ti3C2 MXenes were anchored on the scaffolds through the dopamine-assisted co-deposition process to obtain the PMMA/PEI/polydopamine (PDA)/MXene scaffolds. Under NIR laser irradiation, the scaffolds were able to kill bacteria through the direct contact-killing and synergetic photothermal effect of Ti3C2 MXenes and PDA. Moreover, MXenes and PDA also endowed the scaffolds with excellent ROS-scavenging capacity and satisfying osteogenesis ability. Our experimental results also confirmed that the PMMA/PEI/PDA/MXene scaffolds significantly promoted new bone formation in an infected mandibular defect model. We believe that our study provides new insights into the treatment of infected bone defects.

Optimization of isotropic MoS2/PES membranes for efficient treatment of industrial oily wastewater.

Elimination of tiny oil droplets nearly miscible with wastewater can be realized using membrane technology through ultrafiltration. The novelty of this work was to blend different phases of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) in isotropic polyethersulfone (PES). We prepared isotropic PES membranes by optimizing nonsolvent vapour-induced phase separation (VIPS). Membranes were blended with MoS2 nanosheets of different phases to promote separation performance and antifouling resistance. FE-SEM revealed the flower-like surface morphology of MoS2 nanosheets. HR-TEM of MoS2 revealed 2H domains in the monolayer, flakes of a few layers and a d-spacing of 0.22 nm. Raman spectroscopy could be used to distinguish mixed-phase MoS2 from single-phase MoS2. Isotropic PES membranes modified with 70% 1T/2H MoS2 had a significantly high permeance to pure water (6911 kg m-2 h bar). The same membrane possessed a high efficiency of oil rejection of 98.78%, 97.85%, 99.83% for emulsions of industrial crude oil at 100, 1000 and 10 000 mg L-1, respectively. Removal of oil droplets from wastewater was dominated by a mechanism based on size exclusion. Isotropic PES modified with 2H MoS2 possessed superior oleophilicity, which resulted in low rejection of crude oil. Modified membranes showed excellent fouling resistance for three successive filtration cycles, as evidenced by enhanced antifouling parameters. Our study reveals how the phase composition of MoS2 nanosheets can significantly affect the performance of isotropic PES membranes during the ultrafiltration of oily wastewater.

Projection Micro Stereolithography of Skin Layered Microporous Polymer Membranes As a Separator for Li-Ion Batteries

Commercial liquid electrolyte lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) traditionally incorporate microporous polymer membranes, or separators, to isolate electrode contact and enable ionic transport. Although they do not actively participate in cell chemistry, well-designed separators can influence cell performance and safety, and thus, are essential components of a cell. Current separator manufacturing processes include "wet" or "dry" mechanical stretching , phase inversion, and evaporation-induced phase separation. However, these processes have limited morphological control of geometry and layered structures. Additive manufacturing techniques have been used to rapidly prototype materials that have both high customizability and fine microstructural control. We investigate hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA) as a polymer system using projection micro-stereolithography, a layer-by-layer photopolymerization technique, to develop separators with controlled microstructures for Li-ion batteries. We successfully fabricate a unique polymer architecture of alternating nanometer thin skin layers and microporous network. The fine control of printing parameters (i.e., printing platform, skin layers, and exposure time), results in tunable porosity and morphology. This unique approach to manufacturing LIB separators provides hierarchical homogeneity for more uniform Li-ion transport. It’s potential as a LIB separator is explored by characterizing its electrolyte wettability, thermal tolerance, electrochemical properties, and mechanical stability. Finally, lithium symmetric cells using the HDDA microporous membranes are evaluated against Celgard 2325 separators. This work provides a promising new route for developing separators using additive manufacturing techniques to enable high performance Li-ion batteries.

Antifouling microfiltration membrane filter based on acetylated cellulose ether using vapor-induced phase separation

Antifouling microfiltration membrane filter based on acetylated cellulose ether using vapor-induced phase separation

Porous block polymer composite membranes for uranium uptake

Adsorptive membranes are an effective solution to capture uranium from seawater and contaminated water supplies. Current fibrous membrane-based sorbents suffer from a low density of binding ligands at the solid–liquid interface and broad pore size distributions. These issues lead to problems such as low binding capacity and gradual breakthrough curves during flow-through adsorption. We sought to address these challenges by developing highly permeable (i.e., ∼3.5×104 L m−2 h−1 bar−1) amidoxime-functionalized polysulfone(Psf)/polystyrene-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PS-PAA) composite membranes. A surface-segregation and vapor-induced phase separation (SVIPS) method was used to fabricate membranes that have an interconnected pore structure with PAA-lined pore walls. The PAA brushes offer a high density of reactive carboxyl sites that enable the surface chemistry to be modified with nitrile groups and then converted to amidoxime (AO) ligands for high-capacity uranium adsorption. The functionalized Psf/PS-PAO membrane removes uranium from dilute solution with a capacity of 150 mg g−1. Flow-through experiments demonstrate rapid mass transfer of the membranes, which adsorb over 90% of the uranyl ions from flowing solutions at feed concentrations of 0.1 and 1.0 mg L−1. Batch sorption–desorption experiments also indicate reusability of membranes over several cycles. Therefore, this membrane-based sorbents offers a chemically tailored platform for high-efficient uranium capture under trace concentrations.

Development of erythrocyte-mimetic PFOB/PDMS thermoplastic elastomer core-shell microparticles via SPG membrane emulsification

Erythrocyte-mimetic perfluorooctylbromide (PFOB)/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) thermoplastic elastomer core-shell microparticles were fabricated (for the first time) via Shirasu porous glass membrane emulsification (SPG ME) with evaporation-induced phase separation (EIPS). The resulting micro-sized core-shell particles showed a spontaneously concave shape without a subsequent deformation process such as organic solvent immersion or temperature variations. It replicated the healthy human erythrocyte morphology. In addition, their sizes and morphologies could be controlled by varying the pore size and dispersed-phase composition of the SPG membrane. The diameters of the precisely controlled particles were similar to those of human blood cells (9.6 ± 1.9 μm). The microcompression test revealed a high deformability of the particles owing to both softness of the PDMS-TPE shell and their core-shell structure. The PDMS-based materials displayed a high oxygen permeability, and PFOB displayed a high oxygen solubility. Finally, the oxygen transportation function was evaluated using oxygen tension-responsive HeLa cells (hr-HeLa) under hypoxic conditions (5% O2). This demonstrated the effectiveness of PFOB/PDMS-TPE microparticles as artificial oxygen carriers in various biomedical applications such as tissue engineering.

Hierarchically Porous Implants Orchestrating a Physiological Viscoelastic and Piezoelectric Microenvironment for Bone Regeneration.

The extracellular matrix microenvironment of bone tissue comprises several physiological cues. Thus, artificial bone substitute materials with a single cue are insufficient to meet the demands for bone defect repair. Regeneration of critical-size bone defects remains challenging in orthopedic surgery. Intrinsic viscoelastic and piezoelectric cues from collagen fibers play crucial roles in accelerating bone regeneration, but scaffolds or implants providing integrated cues have seldom been reported. In this study, we aimed to design and prepare hierarchically porous poly(methylmethacrylate)/polyethyleneimine/poly(vinylidenefluoride) composite implants presenting a similar viscoelastic and piezoelectric microenvironment to bone tissue via anti-solvent vapor-induced phase separation. The viscoelastic and piezoelectric cues of the composite implants for human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell line stimulated and activated Piezo1 proteins associated with mechanotransduction signaling pathways. Cortical and spongy bone exhibited excellent regeneration and integration in models of critical-size bone defects on the knee joint and femur in vivo. This study demonstrated that implants with integrated physiological cues were promising artificial bone substitute materials for regenerating critical-size bone defects. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Microstructure control in printable porous polymer composites

The microstructure of a porous polymer matrix composite, specifically the organization of polymer, particles, and pores, plays a defining role in the physical properties of the material. Developing materials and processes that allow us to control the microstructure gives us a powerful tool to create materials with designed performance. Here, a series of porous polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and alumina (Al2O3) composites produced through evaporation induced phase separation (EIPS) are demonstrated. This process utilizes solution processable inks and achieves porosity via a simple drying procedure. This enabled the materials to be printed using direct ink writing (DIW) techniques. The effects of particle size and loading on the mechanical properties and microstructures of these materials were studied. It was found that these materials remain significantly more ductile and extensible than what is expected from particle reinforcement. In the most extreme case, the use of 300 nm Al2O3 particles were found to only minimally reduce strain at failure, even at high loadings. We believe this behavior is enabled by how the EIPS process alters the microstructure of the material and appears to preferentially locate particles at the polymer-pore interface.

A copolymer derivative of poly(4-vinylpyridine propylsulfobetaine) for the design of thermostable bioinert poly(vinylidene difluoride) microporous membranes by vapor-induced phase separation

Most antifouling membranes lose their bioinert properties after steam sterilization because common antifouling materials are sensitive to hydrolysis. Here, we synthesized a random zwitterionic copolymer containing poly(styrene), poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate and zwitterionic poly(4-vinylpyridine propylsulfobetaine). The resulting copolymer, poly(styrene-r-EGMA-r-4VPPS), was blended with poly(vinylidene difluoride) to form bi-continuous and bioinert PVDF membranes by vapor-induced phase inversion. The copolymer drastically enhanced the hydrophilicity of the membranes, as water could wet the porous substrate entirely (WCA 0 for the zwitterionic membrane vs. about 144° for the virgin membrane). When exposed to Escherichia coli, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, whole blood or HT1080 cells, fouling on the non-sterilized modified membranes was reduced by 95 %, 98 %, 99 % and 99 %, respectively. After sterilization, the antifouling properties were maintained. Results of cyclic water/Escherichia coli filtrations indicated that the non-sterilized modified membrane showed a flux recovery ratio of 57 %, against 21 % for a commercial membrane. Importantly, these performances were maintained after sterilization. The copolymer is not only efficient at mitigating biofouling in various situations, but also shows stable properties after autoclaving, which is paramount for membranes to be applied in the biomedical field.

Preparation of thermoplastic polyurethane blend foams with controlled hydrophobicity via vapor induced phase separation

AbstractOil–water separation has attained great attention due to recent concern in environmental safety. Porous material from tailored engineering is the best candidate to selectively adsorb oil from water. Among the various porous materials, polymer based adsorbent has several advantages over others, in terms of controllable porosity and functionality. Here, we propose thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) based blend foam through vapor induced phase separation method as a potential candidate for oil–water separation. In order to adjust hydrophobicity and compatibility of TPU blend, PDMS‐based TPU (Si‐TPU) is designed and synthesized to be blended with commercialized TPU. Si‐TPU with tailored weight ratio (PDMS/PTHF = 4/6) in synthetic level make it possible to achieve both of demanded hydrophobicity (the water contact angle increased from 85.19 ± 1.83° to 121.15 ± 3.79° after adding Si‐TPU) and controlling compatibility with CTPU during VIPS foaming. Thus, these well‐designed Si‐TPU can be utilized in various fields such as improving compatibility of polymer blend, adsorption efficiency of oil, and smart filtration, and so forth.