Eco-friendly preparation of robust superhydrophobic Cu(OH)2 coating for self-cleaning, oil-water separation and oil sorption

• Published in: Surface & coatings technology 2017-09, Vol.325, p.14-21
• Main Authors: Deng, Wanshun, Long, Mengying, Miao, Xinrui, Wen, Ni, Deng, Wenli
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adhesives; Cleaning; Coating; Contact angle; Contamination; Copper; Copper hydroxide coating; Durable; Hydrophobic surfaces; Hydrophobicity; Lauric acid; Oil sorption; Oil-water separation; Raw materials; Self-cleaning; Studies; Superhydrophobic
• ISSN: 0257-8972; 1879-3347
• DOI: 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2017.06.040

Superhydrophobic surfaces have received so much attention in recent years and several approaches have been developed to prepare them. However, most current superhydrophobic surfaces are hard to be applied extensively due to some shortcomings such as mechanical weakness and complicated preparation process. In this paper, we present a facile and environmental way to prepare superhydrophobic coating by combining adhesives with lauric acid modified copper hydroxide powder. All the raw materials are commercially available and cheap and the entire process is very simple and eco-friendly, which make it probable for real application. The coated surfaces all show large contact angles and very small sliding angles with water droplets both in air and in oil, displaying super-water-repellency. Thus, the lauric acid modified Cu(OH)2 (LAMC) coating features special self-cleaning property even after the contamination of oil. With the help of adhesives, it is very stable to resist mechanical strikes. Additionally, the coated copper mesh can separate oil-water mixtures efficiently and quickly and the coated sponge can absorb oil spills selectively. We believe that such versatile, durable and environmental superhydrophobic coating is promising in various areas. •Eco-friendly and simple preparation of superhydrophobic coating•Different coated substrates show superhydrophobicity both in air and in oil.•Self-cleaning effect both in air and in oil has realized on the coated surfaces.•The coated copper mesh features separating oil-water mixtures efficiently and quickly.•The coated sponge behaves very well in selectively absorbing oil spills.