A multifunctional silver@titanium dioxide composite cloth for oil and water separation

Abstract

Herein, a multifunctional silver@titanium dioxide composite cloth (MSTCC) with convertible wettability was prepared using an uncomplex method. Due to the unique properties of nano-titania and nano-silver, MSTCC can achieve reversible wettability transition under IR or UV irradiation. This switchable wettability of MSTCC was used to separate water–heavy oil mixtures or water–light oil mixtures. For various light (heavy) oil–water mixtures, the oil–water separation efficiency is as high as 99.5%, and the oil flux is above 2.5 × 10⁴ (L m⁻² h⁻¹). Furthermore, MSTCC exhibits excellent photothermal properties under infrared irradiation. The particular functionality and good wettability make MSTCC show underlying advantages in many areas.