LAUSR

The high performance of an oil–water separator relies largely on unique design of the architecture with a hierarchical and porous morphology as well as smart wetting responsiveness of active materials. A well-structured NaOH-treated antioil nonwoven mesh with in-situ and ex-situ pH-switched wetting was successfully prepared by controlled electrospinning of SAN copolymer followed by thermal treating in NaOH aqueous solution. The as-obtained robust and flexible pH-switched antioil mesh with highly accessible pH-responsive groups and a 3D open porous network geometry not only will achieve durable superhydrophilicity/superoleophobicity in air but also a superior underwater low-adhesive superoleophobicity could be obtained, leading the surface to be successfully used for long-term usage immiscible/emulsified light oil–water separation using only gravity-driven force with excellent antioil fouling during multiple cycles. Simultaneously, the water-soluble pollutant could be effectively captured by the antioil me...