Superhydrophobic and superoleophilic graphene aerogel for adsorption of oil pollutants from water

Abstract

Three-dimensional graphene based materials with superhydrophobic/superoleophilic attributes are highly desirable for water treatment. The graphene aerogel (GA) was prepared by hydrothermal reaction of the graphene oxide (GO) solution in the presence of dopamine followed by freeze-drying. The subsequent surface modification of GA using fluoroalkylsilane occurred by a vapor–liquid deposition process. The superhydrophobic graphene aerogel (SGA) fabricated from GA exhibits superhydrophobicity and superoleophilicity with the water contact angle of 156.5° and the oil contact angle of 0°. With this property, SGA could selectively adsorb various types of oils/organic solvents from the oil–water mixture. Moreover, the SGA possesses excellent low bulk density (9.6 mg cm⁻³), high absorption capacity (110–230 fold weight gain), and superior adsorption recyclability. With all these desirable features, the SGA is a promising candidate for oil-polluted water remediation.