Durable super-hydrophobic PDMS@SiO2@WS2 sponge for efficient oil/water separation in complex marine environment.

Abstract The robust and eco-friendly super-hydrophobic sponge with remarkable performances has been potential adsorption material for the treatment of offshore oil spills. In this work, the durable PDMS@SiO2@WS2 sponge was fabricated via a green and facile one-step dipping method. The mixed tungsten disulfide (WS2) microparticles and hydrophobic SiO2 nanoparticles were immobilized on the sponge by non-toxic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) glue tier, which featured the hierarchical structure and extreme water repellency with the water contact angle of 158.8±1.4°. The obtained PDMS@SiO2@WS2 sponge exhibits high oil adsorption capacity with 12−112 times of its own weight, and oil/water selectivity with separation efficiency over 99.85%. DFT calculations further confirm the strong affinity of PDMS@SiO2@WS2 sponge towards oil from the point of molecular simulation. Notably, when subjected to the complex marine environment including high temperature, corrosive condition, insolation, and strong wind and waves, the modified sponge can maintain sable super-hydrophobicity with water contact angle over 150°. Moreover, it possesses superior mechanical stability for sustainable reusability and oil recovery. The sponge fabricated by non-toxic modifiers along with its sable super-hydrophobicity in complex marine environment makes it a potential material for practical applications.