Superhydrophobic and superoleophilic porous reduced graphene oxide/polycarbonate monoliths for high-efficiency oil/water separation.

ABSTRACT

Superhydrophobic and superoleophilic porous reduced graphene oxide/polycarbonate (RGO/PC) monoliths with novel micro-nanoscale binary structure were first fabricated by thermally impacted nonsolvent induced phase separation (TINIPS) method. Owing to the unique pore structure, the porous monoliths possessed high specific surface area (137.19m2/g) and porosity (91.3%). The superhydrophobic RGO/PC monoliths exhibited excellent capability to selectively adsorb a wide range of oils and organic solvents from water. Furthermore, the monoliths could keep a stable repellency against corrosive mediums (e.g., acidic and alkali solutions). Based on these superior properties, porous RGO/PC monoliths will be a promising candidate for high-efficiency oil/water separation to deal with water pollution.