Self-healing cellulose nanocrystal-stabilized droplets for water collection under oil

Abstract

The removal of small water droplets from oils is imperative because oils can easily be contaminated or deteriorated by water during transportation, storage and usage. Here, we report superhydrophobic magnetic cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) nanoparticles, which are capable of removing tiny water droplets from oil by forming under oil particle-stabilized droplets. These particle-stabilized droplets can be collected and moved by a magnetic force, and self-healed upon damage by an external force.