Tunable surface morphology of electrospun PMMA fiber using binary solvent

- Rough surface with hierarchical macro/nanostructure of PMMA membrane was obtained.
- The membranes exhibit water contact angle up to 153.9° and zero oil contact angle.
- Super wettability can be tuned by adjusting the weight ratio of binary solvent.
- Varying weight of binary solvent can obtain wide distribution of fiber diameter.

Superhydrophobic-superoleophilic fibrous polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) membranes were prepared by electrospinning technique. The membranes exhibited a high water contact angle up to 153.9° and nearly zero oil contact angle. This super wettability property is attributed to hierarchical macro- and nanostructure on surface of PMMA membrane and can be conveniently tuned by adjusting the weight ratio of binary solvent of N,N-dimethylacetamide and acetone. Resultant fibrous PMMA membranes with superhydrophobic-superoleophilic property can be used in water treatment. This facile one-step strategy shows an alternative approach to produce special wettability surface and will benefit this material.

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