Underwater superoleophobic mesh based on BiVO4 nanoparticles with sunlight-driven self-cleaning property for oil/water separation

•The BiVO4 coated mesh shows underwater superoleophobicity.•The BiVO4 coated mesh exhibits excellent durability against harsh conditions.•The BiVO4 coated mesh can be applied in a continuous oil-water separation system.•The coated mesh can decompose organic contaminants under simulated solar irradiation.

There is an increasingly significant issue on oil/water separation in modern chemical industry and environmental protection on account of the frequent oil spills and large amounts of oily industrial wastewater. Herein, we demonstrate an underwater superoleophobic BiVO4 coated mesh with sunlight-driven self-cleaning property for oil/water separation. The as-prepared coating has micro/nano structures and shows underwater superoleophobicity for various oils and organic solvents. It also exhibits excellent durability against abrasion, cavitation erosion and ultra-low temperature. Such coating can be used in separation of oil/water mixtures and further applied in a continuous oil-water separation system. More importantly, the BiVO4 coating can decompose organic contaminants in water and those absorbed on the surface under simulated solar irradiation, thus make both water and the coating clean. All these features make the BiVO4 coated mesh an ideal candidate for potential application in water contamination treatment.

Graphical abstractAn underwater superoleophobic BiVO4 coated mesh with sunlight-induced self-cleaning property for oil/water separation application was reported. It exhibits excellent durability against abrasion, cavitation erosion and ultra-low temperature. Most importantly, it can decompose organic contaminants in water and those absorbed on the surface under simulated solar irradiation, thus make both water and the coating clean.Download high-res image (210KB)Download full-size image