Synthesis of an amphibious superamphiphilic carbon-based materials with unique properties†
Abstract
Recently, superamphiphilic materials have attracted significant attention because of their excellent affinity towards both water and oil. In this study, a novel but simple strategy to endow carbon cloth and polyurethane (PU) foam with amphibious superamphiphilicity (i.e., superamphiphilicity simultaneously in air and in a pre-wetted state) has been demonstrated. Results showed that the surface wettability of the carbon cloth changed from hydrophobic to superamphiphilic by increasing the acidification time using HNO3, which manifested the contact angle of 0° for water and oils irrespective of the state (at dry state or pre-wetted with water or oil) under which the surface was put. Subsequently, the superamphiphilic PU foam was fabricated based on a simple acidification method, and possessed an excellent superamphiphilicity with water and oil fluids taking less than 19 seconds to spread completely on the surface when the PU foam was in a dry state or pre-wetted with water or oil. Moreover, the PU foam exhibited a high storage capacity for water and oil, up to 9–12 times of its own weight. The discovery of this superamphiphilic foam will provide a versatile and effective way for the development of superwetting materials and their applications in self-cleaning and anti-fouling fields.