Bioinspired Under-Liquid Dual Superlyophobic Surface for On-Demand Oil/Water Separation

Porous membranes with under-liquid dual superlyophobic properties, which are difficult to achieve because of a thermodynamic contradiction, have attracted considerable interest in the field of switchable oil/water separation. Herein, a bioinspired mesh membrane with alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic chemical patterns on its surface that endows it with superamphiphilic and under-liquid dual superlyophobic properties is fabricated by a simple liquidus modification process. The as-prepared membrane possesses a combination of under-oil superhydrophobic and under-water superoleophobic characteristics in the absence of external stimuli. Moreover, it can effectively perform the on-demand separation of various oil/water systems, including immiscible oil/water mixtures and oil/water emulsions owing to its under-liquid dual superlyophobic properties.