Facile fabrication of robust superhydrophobic/superoleophlic Cu coated stainless steel mesh for highly efficient oil/water separation

A mechanically durable and chemically stable Cu coated stainless steel mesh is successfully prepared adopting a simple electrodeposition method. The novel copper film is featured with characteristics of dense stacking structure accumulated by micrometer stone-like grain, through which a suitable rougher surface is therefore formed, exhibiting excellent performance in mechanical stability, chemical endurance, self-cleaning and oil-water separation efficiency. The influences of the electrodeposition current and time on microstructural evolution, as well as the wettability were discussed. The superhydrophobic and superhyoleophilic coating possesses a water contact angle (WCA) of 160 +/- 2 degrees, a sliding angle (SA) of 2.2 +/- 0.1 degrees and oil contact angle (OCA) of 0 degrees under the deposition condition of 0.18 A (0.033 A/cm(2)) for 150 s. The robust films maintain its superhydrophobicity not only in acid and alkali environments, but also after wear test under a pressure of 6.5 kPa with a length of 100 cm. In addition, the proposed film can withstand 2.35 kPa of water intrusion pressure. It exhibit high efficient separation for a mixture of oils or organic solvents with water and could achieve 98.3% separation efficiency in a short time of 9.2 s. The proposed design has great potential and prosperous future in practical industrial applications for mass production and efficient oil-water separation.

Automated summary

A mechanically durable and chemically stable Cu coated stainless steel mesh was successfully prepared using a simple electrodeposition method, exhibiting excellent performance in mechanical stability, chemical endurance, self-cleaning, and oil-water separation efficiency. The proposed design has great potential and prosperous future in practical industrial applications for mass production and efficient oil-water separation.