Surface wettability switching of a zeolitic imidazolate framework mesh via surface ligand exchange for oil-water separation

The surface wettability of a zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) mesh was successfully switched from hydrophilicity to hydrophobicity via surface ligand exchange aiming for oil-water separation for the first time. The ZIF-8 mesh after ligand exchange (ZIF-8-SLE mesh) exhibits superhydrophobicity that selectively allows the oil permeation, contrary to ZIF-8 mesh that only allows water to pass through. The high separation performance and recyclability of ZIF-8-SLE mesh show the great potential of this method in fabricating new MOF meshes, films or membranes for future practical oil-water related separations.