Robust fabrication of superhydrophobic and photocatalytic self-cleaning cotton textiles for oil-water separation via thiol-ene click reaction

Robust superhydrophobic cotton textiles exhibiting photocatalytic self-cleaning ability under UV light were successfully achieved by surface functionalization with anatase TiO2 sol and mercapto silanes, and hydrophobization with vinyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (V-PDMS) via thiol-ene click reaction. The modified cotton textiles not only showed outstanding water repellency with a water contact angle of 154.2 degrees, but exhibited desirable photodegradation of oil red O by photocatalysis under UV irradiation. Moreover, the modified textiles exhibited excellent durability and stability after exposure to different severe conditions, such as acid and base solutions, organic solvents, laundering and UV exposure. The durably coated textiles manifested desirable separation performance in oil-water mixtures, and the separation efficiency was about 99.0% even after 20 times use. Cotton textiles with multi-functionality of superhydrophobicity, photocatalysis and oil-water separation are hopefully applied in a diverse range of practical applications in self-cleaning and oil-removal fields.