Highly reusable and superhydrophobic spongy graphene aerogels for efficient oil/water separation
Abstract Graphene aerogels (GAs) are three-dimensional (3D) graphene sponges with unique wettability and have demonstrated the potential for reducing contamination from oil spills and chemical accidents. Herein, we report new polyurethane (PU) sponge-reinforced GAs with low surface energy, high sorp...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2017-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-07583-0 |
| _version_ | 1818845661224763392 |
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| author | Yuanzheng Luo Shenlin Jiang Qi Xiao Chuanliang Chen Buyin Li |
| author_facet | Yuanzheng Luo Shenlin Jiang Qi Xiao Chuanliang Chen Buyin Li |
| author_sort | Yuanzheng Luo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Graphene aerogels (GAs) are three-dimensional (3D) graphene sponges with unique wettability and have demonstrated the potential for reducing contamination from oil spills and chemical accidents. Herein, we report new polyurethane (PU) sponge-reinforced GAs with low surface energy, high sorption capacity and excellent recyclability for use as efficient oil sorbents. Spongy graphene aerogels (SGAs) with a hierarchical porous morphology were produced by simply freeze-casting reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to form compacted macroscale sponges. This novel micro-structure benefits from the advantages of embedded graphene and presents reversible large-strain deformation (90%), high compressive strength (63 kpa) and viscoelastic stability. These superior properties, in addition to super-hydrophobicity, endow the aerogels with excellent recyclability without deteriorating the oil absorption performance. Furthermore, SGA has selective and high-volume absorbability (>100%) and can efficiently separate oil from water under continuous pumping action. The excellent absorption performance and robust mechanical properties make this graphene material promising for the large-scale recovery of spilled oil. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T05:33:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9420ddebbba443c688c3a6b2913706ce |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T05:33:12Z |
| publishDate | 2017-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-9420ddebbba443c688c3a6b2913706ce2022-12-21T20:34:11ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222017-08-017111010.1038/s41598-017-07583-0Highly reusable and superhydrophobic spongy graphene aerogels for efficient oil/water separationYuanzheng Luo0Shenlin Jiang1Qi Xiao2Chuanliang Chen3Buyin Li4Key Laboratory of Electronic information functional material of Ministry of Education, School of Optical and Electronic Information, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyKey Laboratory of Electronic information functional material of Ministry of Education, School of Optical and Electronic Information, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyKey Laboratory of Electronic information functional material of Ministry of Education, School of Optical and Electronic Information, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyKey Laboratory of Electronic information functional material of Ministry of Education, School of Optical and Electronic Information, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyKey Laboratory of Electronic information functional material of Ministry of Education, School of Optical and Electronic Information, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Graphene aerogels (GAs) are three-dimensional (3D) graphene sponges with unique wettability and have demonstrated the potential for reducing contamination from oil spills and chemical accidents. Herein, we report new polyurethane (PU) sponge-reinforced GAs with low surface energy, high sorption capacity and excellent recyclability for use as efficient oil sorbents. Spongy graphene aerogels (SGAs) with a hierarchical porous morphology were produced by simply freeze-casting reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to form compacted macroscale sponges. This novel micro-structure benefits from the advantages of embedded graphene and presents reversible large-strain deformation (90%), high compressive strength (63 kpa) and viscoelastic stability. These superior properties, in addition to super-hydrophobicity, endow the aerogels with excellent recyclability without deteriorating the oil absorption performance. Furthermore, SGA has selective and high-volume absorbability (>100%) and can efficiently separate oil from water under continuous pumping action. The excellent absorption performance and robust mechanical properties make this graphene material promising for the large-scale recovery of spilled oil.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-07583-0 |
| spellingShingle | Yuanzheng Luo Shenlin Jiang Qi Xiao Chuanliang Chen Buyin Li Highly reusable and superhydrophobic spongy graphene aerogels for efficient oil/water separation Scientific Reports |
| title | Highly reusable and superhydrophobic spongy graphene aerogels for efficient oil/water separation |
| title_full | Highly reusable and superhydrophobic spongy graphene aerogels for efficient oil/water separation |
| title_fullStr | Highly reusable and superhydrophobic spongy graphene aerogels for efficient oil/water separation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Highly reusable and superhydrophobic spongy graphene aerogels for efficient oil/water separation |
| title_short | Highly reusable and superhydrophobic spongy graphene aerogels for efficient oil/water separation |
| title_sort | highly reusable and superhydrophobic spongy graphene aerogels for efficient oil water separation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-07583-0 |
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