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Three-Dimensional Thermoresponsive Polydimethylsiloxane Sponge with Reversible Superwettability for Switchable
Diandian Zhang1, Qing Xu2, Hossain Mohammad Alamgir2
1Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Digital Textile Inkjet Printing, Key Laboratory of Eco-Textile, Jiangnan University, Ministry of Education, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P. R. China.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|April 1, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a smart, switchable sponge with tunable wettability for water and air purification. This electroconductive material, PNIPAAm@C@PDMS, uses temperature changes to separate oil-water mixtures and filter fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Surface Chemistry
- Environmental Engineering
Background:
- Reversible surface superwettability with stimuli-responsive properties is crucial for advanced applications.
- Developing efficient and eco-friendly materials for water and air purification remains a significant challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer a thermoresponsive, electroconductive polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sponge modified with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and carbon black (PNIPAAm@C@PDMS).
- To demonstrate the sponge's tunable wettability for separating diverse oil-water mixtures and filtering particulate matter (PM).
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a composite sponge by incorporating PNIPAAm and carbon black into a PDMS matrix.
- Utilizing Joule heating via electrical conductivity for smart wettability switching.
- Testing separation efficiency for water-in-oil and oil-in-water emulsions.
- Evaluating PM2.5 filtration performance and long-term stability under humid conditions.
Main Results:
- The PNIPAAm@C@PDMS sponge exhibited switchable superwettability triggered by temperature-induced Joule heating.
- Below the lower critical solution temperature (LCST), the sponge was superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic, ideal for water-in-oil separation.
- Above the LCST, it became superhydrophobic/underwater superoleophilic, enabling oil-in-water mixture separation.
- The sponge demonstrated effective and recyclable filtration of PM2.5, with stable performance in high humidity.
Conclusions:
- The developed smart switchable sponge offers a multifunctional platform for simultaneous water and air pollution treatment.
- Its tunable wettability and robust filtration capabilities highlight its potential for environmental remediation applications.
- This material design provides a promising avenue for creating advanced superwettable surfaces for sustainable environmental solutions.
