Bilateral Oil-Water Separation by Diamond-Like Carbon Films Dual-Coated Copper Mesh via One-Step Electrodeposition

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Science
• Surface Chemistry

Background:

• Oil-water separation is crucial for environmental and healthcare applications.
• Existing methods face challenges in cost, efficiency, and durability.
• Bioinspired superwetting materials offer potential but require further development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, cost-effective, and robust material for bilateral oil-water separation.
• To investigate the influence of electrode size ratio on film morphology and performance.
• To create a reusable material with high separation efficiency and durability.

Main Methods:

• One-step electrodeposition of diamond-like carbon film on copper meshes in deep eutectic solvent.
• Regulation of electrode area ratio (cathode to anode) to control bilateral microstructure formation.
• Characterization of surface wettability, corrosion resistance, and mechanical durability.
• Oil-water separation tests evaluating efficiency, reusability, and long-term performance.

Main Results:

• Bilateral microstructures and wettability were found to be dependent on the cathode-to-anode area ratio.
• The optimal area ratio (1:16) yielded films with identical superhydrophobicity/superlipophilicity on both sides.
• High initial separation efficiency (99.8%) was achieved, maintaining >90% after 25 cycles.
• The material demonstrated excellent corrosion resistance, mechanical durability, and reusability via acetone cleaning and air-aging.

Conclusions:

• Electrode size regulation in deep eutectic solvent electrodeposition is an effective strategy for creating dual-coated oil-water separation materials.
• The developed diamond-like carbon coated copper mesh offers a low-cost, high-efficiency, and reusable solution for bilateral oil-water separation.
• This approach provides a new pathway for designing advanced materials for environmental remediation and resource recovery.