Highly Efficient Oil-Water Separation Using Surface-Programmable Membranes

Abstract

The challenge of separating emulsified oil from oil/water mixture has sparked enormous research interests in developing advanced membrane technology. One of the most crucial elements to achieve high separating efficiency lies in the design of unique interfacial properties of membranes. Herein, we present a surface-programmable membrane for separating oil-water emulsion based on contrast wetting strategy. Additionally, owing to the precise control on the surface chemistry and microstructures of membranes, the hybrid membrane not only separates the oil-water mixture with high efficiency (>99.2%), but also demonstrates versatility for multiple applications, e.g., heavy metal removal. This research opens up new opportunities in developing multifunctional membrane-based materials.