Aminoazobenzene@Ag modified meshes with large extent photo-response: towards reversible oil/water removal from oil/water mixtures. Issue 14 (13th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qu, Ruixiang; Liu, Yanan; Zhang, Weifeng; Li, Xiangyu; Feng, Lin; Jiang, Lei
• Is Part Of: Chemical science. Volume 10:Issue 14(2019)
• Page Start: 4089
• Page End: 4096
• Publication Date: 2019-03-13
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c9sc00020h
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-6520

Abstract

Abstract : A large-extent photo-responsive wettability transformation is realized by aminoazobenzene@Ag to selectively remove oil/water. Abstract : Photo-responsive materials with superwetting properties, especially in the azo-based class, have been used in water treatment because of their smart performance on wettability changes. However, their transformation extent in wettability has always troubled researchers. Here, we modified nano-Ag pine needles and aminoazobenzene (AABN) on polydopamine (PDA) pre-treated porous meshes, realizing a large-extent reversible photo-responsive wettability transformation from highly hydrophobic to highly hydrophilic. The contact angle is about 150.0° after being exposed to visible light, and is about 10.0° under 365 nm UV light. Accordingly, the modified mesh can achieve photo-responsive removal between oil and water from oil/water mixtures. This facile and universal approach based on trans – cis isomerization of AABN could be endowed to various commercial conductive meshes. Moreover, the modified meshes exhibit satisfactory removal efficiency, reusability and physical/chemical stability, which are more promising for practical applications such as fuel recycling, remote controlled oil/water separation and astronautical resource regeneration.