A flexible Ti₃C₂T (MXene)/paper membrane for efficient oil/water separation

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Scalable fabrication of flexible membranes for oil/water separation is crucial but underdeveloped.
• Existing methods often face challenges in efficiency, cost, and scalability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a scalable, cost-effective, and high-performance flexible membrane for efficient oil/water separation.
• To utilize Titanium carbide (Ti3C2T x) MXene as a functional layer on a paper substrate.

Main Methods:

• Coating conventional print paper with MXene ink to create a functional membrane.
• Characterizing membrane properties including hydrophilicity, oleophobicity, flexibility, and robustness.
• Testing separation efficiency for oil/water emulsions and water permeation flux.
• Evaluating anti-fouling properties through chemical-free cleaning methods.

Main Results:

• Developed a highly hydrophilic and oleophobic membrane with an underwater oil contact angle of 137°.
• Achieved high separation efficiency for oil/water emulsions (>99%) and high water permeation flux (>450 L/m²/h/bar).
• Demonstrated outstanding flexibility, robustness, and excellent anti-fouling properties with simple, chemical-free cleaning.

Conclusions:

• A facile and scalable approach for fabricating low-cost, high-performance flexible membranes using MXene ink on paper.
• The developed membranes show significant potential for industrial oil/water separation applications due to their efficiency, durability, and anti-fouling characteristics.