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Constructing a Nonfluorinated, Durable, and PhotothermalSuperhydrophobic Polyurethane Sponge by Utilizing a Dual-Layer Designof Acetylene Black and Lignin Microparticles for Multifunctional Applications
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Scientists created a sponge that repels water but soaks up oil, using safer, fluorine-free materials instead of the "forever chemicals" often used in similar products. Beyond cleaning up oil spills, this sponge can also absorb five common types of microplastics from water, offering a promising tool for tackling both oil pollution and plastic contamination without relying on chemicals linked to health concerns.
The fabrication of superhydrophobic sponges with multifunctionality is of great importance in various practical fields. Herein, a fluorine-free, durable, and photothermal superhydrophobic polyurethane (PU) sponge is obtained using a dual-layer design, consisting of acetylene black (AB) via the adhesion of epoxy resin and lignin microparticles (LMPs) via the adhesion of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The introduction of AB and LMPs not only creates hierarchical surface roughness on the skeletons of the PU sponge but also acts as photothermal absorbers. The as-prepared superhydrophobic PU sponge possesses excellent chemical resistance, hydrothermal and photothermal stabilities, and mechanical durability. Due to surface superhydrophobicity and superoleophilicity, it exhibits high adsorption capacities up to 56.3 g/g for various oils and organic solvents, and shows high separation efficiencies up to 99.9%. Benefiting from an enhanced photothermal property caused by introducing AB and LMPs, the superhydrophobic PU sponge displays a maximum surface temperature of 75.8 °C under 1 sun irradiation. Consequently, it can rapidly adsorb a droplet of viscous crude oil (1 mL) within 70 s (1 sun), and achieve an ice-free property at −18.5 °C (0.5 sun). Furthermore, the superhydrophobic PU sponge can effectively separate water-in-oil (or oil-in-water) emulsions and adsorb five types of microplastics (PE, PP, PET, PS, and PVC) due to the rich functional surface groups. This work provides a dual-layer design for fabricating fluorine-free, durable, and photothermal superhydrophobic PU sponge, and opens a new avenue for preparing superhydrophobic sponges with multifunctionality for diverse practical applications.
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Constructing a Nonfluorinated, Durable, and PhotothermalSuperhydrophobic Polyurethane Sponge by Utilizing a Dual-Layer Designof Acetylene Black and Lignin Microparticles for Multifunctional Applications
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists created a sponge that repels water but soaks up oil, crude spills, and even microplastics from water—without using the harmful "forever chemicals" (fluorine compounds) typically used to make surfaces water-repellent. This matters because it offers a safer way to clean up oil spills and filter out tiny plastic particles from water sources, potentially reducing environmental contaminants that can make their way into our food and water supply. The sponge is also durable and can heat up in sunlight to work faster, making it practical for real-world cleanup efforts.
Constructing a Nonfluorinated, Durable, and PhotothermalSuperhydrophobic Polyurethane Sponge by Utilizing a Dual-Layer Designof Acetylene Black and Lignin Microparticles for Multifunctional Applications
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists created a sponge-like material that can soak up oil spills, clean up water pollution, and even capture tiny plastic particles (microplastics) from water—all without using the harmful "forever chemicals" (fluorine compounds) typically found in water-repellent products. This matters because microplastics are increasingly found in our water supplies and bodies, and this sponge offers a safer, more durable way to filter them out while also tackling oil pollution, using sunlight to boost its cleaning power.
Constructing a Nonfluorinated, Durable, and PhotothermalSuperhydrophobic Polyurethane Sponge by Utilizing a Dual-Layer Designof Acetylene Black and Lignin Microparticles for Multifunctional Applications
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists created a sponge coated with natural materials (instead of harmful "forever chemicals" called fluorine compounds often used in water-repellent products) that can soak up oil spills, clean toxic microplastics like PE and PVC out of water, and even heat itself up using sunlight to work faster and resist icing. This matters because it offers a safer, more sustainable way to clean up environmental pollutants—like oil and microplastics—that can otherwise make their way into our water supply and food chain, without introducing additional toxic fluorinated chemicals into the environment.
Constructing a Nonfluorinated, Durable, and PhotothermalSuperhydrophobic Polyurethane Sponge by Utilizing a Dual-Layer Designof Acetylene Black and Lignin Microparticles for Multifunctional Applications
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists created a sponge coated with natural, non-toxic materials (instead of harmful "forever chemicals" called PFAS) that soaks up oil spills, cleans contaminated water, and even captures microplastic particles like PE and PS. This matters because it offers a safer, more sustainable way to clean up environmental pollutants—including the tiny plastic fragments increasingly found in our water, food, and bodies—without introducing new chemical hazards in the process.
Constructing a Nonfluorinated, Durable, and Photothermal Superhydrophobic Polyurethane Sponge by Utilizing a Dual-Layer Design of Acetylene Black and Lignin Microparticles for Multifunctional Applications
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists created a sponge coated with natural, non-toxic materials (instead of the harmful "forever chemicals" typically used) that repels water while soaking up oil, cleans up oil spills faster using sunlight for heat, and can even filter out microplastic particles from water. This matters because it offers a safer, more environmentally friendly way to clean up pollution without introducing more persistent chemicals into our water and ecosystems—addressing both oil contamination and the growing problem of microplastics that can end up in what we eat and drink.
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