3D hierarchical MnO2 aerogels with superhydrophobicity for selective oil–water separation. (20th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qiu, Zhiwei; Zhang, Tao; Yue, Xuejie; Fang, Yuanyuan; Yang, Dongya; Qiu, Fengxian
• Is Part Of: Applied organometallic chemistry. Volume 33:Number 9(2019)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2019-06-20
• Subjects: aerogel -- MnO2 nanowire -- oil adsorption -- superhydrophobic -- vapor deposition; Organometallic chemistry -- Periodicals; Organometallic compounds -- Periodicals; 547.05
• DOI: 10.1002/aoc.5073
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0268-2605

Abstract

Abstract : Inorganic nanowire aerogel with low density, high specific surface area and high porosity has received increasing attention in the field of materials physics and chemistry because of not only the unique structural and physical features of metallic oxide but also low cost, environmental friendliness and earth abundant of precursor materials. In this work, MnO2 nanowire aerogels (MNA) with ultralow density, and stable 3D hierarchical structures was successfully fabricated by freeze‐drying processes using MnO2 nanowire as building blocks. The length of MnO2 nanowires exceeds 100 μm, making it easier to cross‐link and self‐assemble into a 3D network of aerogels, and the acid and alkali resistance of MnO2 enables it to adapt to extreme environments. Simultaneously, the monodispersed MnO2 nanowire was prepared by the hydrothermal method, followed by acid treatment. To obtain superhydrophobic properties and achieve selective oil adsorption, the surfaces of nanowire aerogels were grafted the hydrophobic groups with low surface energy via vapor deposition. It is indicated that the obtained 3D hierarchical MNA show both superhydrophobic and super‐lipophilic properties simultaneously with a high‐water contact angle of 156° ± 2° and an oil contact angle of 0°. And the MNA exhibited a high oil adsorption capacity of 85–140 g/g, thereby indicating its potential applications in oil/water separation. More importantly, the resulting MNA can be recycled ten cycles without loss of oil absorption capacity (more than 120 g/g). The results presented in this work demonstrate that the as‐prepared nanowire aerogel may find applications in chemical separation and environmental remediation for large‐scale absorption of oils from water. Abstract : MnO2 aerogels has a 3D hierarchical structure. MnO2 aerogels are superhydrophobic and superlipophilic. MnO2 aerogels has high circulation and stability in extreme environment.