Facile fabrication of stable superhydrophobic SiO2/polystyrene coating and separation of liquids with different surface tension

•Superhydrophobic SiO2/polystyrene coatings are fabricated by a simple process.•It does not need any fluorochemicals to produce the superhydrophobic surface.•The coatings possess both mechanical durability and easy repairability.•The SiO2/polystyrene coatings can be used for the separation of water/oil.

Flexible superhydrophobic and superoleophilic SiO2/polystyrene nanocomposite coating was fabricated on fabric or filter paper surface by a one-step dipping process. The coating possessed both mechanical durability and easy repairability. Moreover, the coating showed the anti-fouling performance for organic solvents, which could self-remove the organic solvents layer and recovered to its superhydrophobicity. The SiO2/polystyrene coatings were used for the separation of liquids with different surface tension, and the separation efficiency was investigated in detail. The advantage of the present approach is that it does not rely on any chemical modification to produce superhydrophobic surfaces.