Multifunctional Photothermal Conversion Nanocoatings Toward Highly Efficient and Safe High-Viscosity Oil Cleanup Absorption

Abstract

Efficient and safe cleanup for the high-viscosity heavy oil spill has been a worldwide challenge due to its sluggish flowability, while classic absorption methods by electric/solar heating are seriously limited by low efficiency and high fire hazards during heating of highly flammable oil. Facing this dilemma, we reported a novel flame-retardant photothermal conversion nanocoating to endow commercial foams with highly efficient and safe heavy oil cleanup absorption. This multifunctional nanocoating consisting of nano-Fe 3 O 4 and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) that both showed photothermal conversion ability and nonflammable nature can be firmly deposited on the polymer foam skeletons via facile coprecipitation and dip-coating processes. The composite foam showed a tough morphology with high hydrophobicity and low density, thus leading to selective high absorption for various oils and organic solvents. Due to the double photothermal conversion effects of nano-Fe 3 O 4 and rGO, the temperature of the foam can be rapidly heated at a rate of ∼103.5 °C/min (the fastest rate ever) under 1 sun irradiation. Consequently, the foam with a high absorption capacity of 75.1 times its weight demonstrated a rapid absorption rate of 9000 g m −2 min −1 for large-viscosity oil under 1 sun irradiation, which was 3 times faster than previously reported. Furthermore, benefitting from high flame retardancy, elasticity, and magnetism, the foam can be safely and repeatedly used for magnetically controllable oil cleanup absorption, which effectively avoids oil spill hazards.

Multifunctional Flame-Retardant Melamine-Based Hybrid Foam for Infrared Stealth, Thermal Insulation, and Electromagnetic Interference Shielding

“…In the XPS spectra of AgNW/Fe 3 O 4 /MF (Figure a), the peaks of Fe 2p at 724.6 eV and Ag 2d at 367.7 eV confirmed the successful decoration of Fe 3 O 4 and AgNWs. Moreover, in the XRD profiles, the peaks around 30.1, 35.4, 43.1, 56.9, and 62.5° corresponded to (220), (311), (400), (511), and (440) planes of Fe 3 O 4 with a cubic phase (PDF#19-0629), , while the peaks around 38.1, 44.3, 64.5, and 77.5° represented (111), (200), (220), and (311) planes of AgNW crystals (PDF#04-0783), respectively. − Interestingly, the (220), (311), and (511) planes of Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles shifted from 30.1, 35.4, and 56.9° for Fe 3 O 4 /MF foam to 29.9, 35.2, and 56.7° for AgNW/Fe 3 O 4 /MF foam, respectively, illustrating the hydrogen bond between the −OH group of AgNWs and nano-Fe 3 O 4. To further investigate the interactions between the nano-Fe 3 O 4 and the MF matrix, FT-IR spectroscopy was performed (Figure c).…”

Ultralight Biomass Aerogels with Multifunctionality and Superelasticity Under Extreme Conditions

“…That is to say, less than 10 kg of the HGC aerogel can absorb more than 1 ton of petroleum, showing great potential in oil/organic solvent spills and pollution treatments. The absorption capacity for chloroform at room temperature was as high as 165 g/g, which were much superior to those of polymer-based absorbents ever reported (Figure e), including polyurethane sponge (59–68 g/g), melamine foam (100–122 g/g), − and cellulose aerogel without carbonization (45–100 g/g). , It was noted that the absorption capacities at low temperatures were much similar to those at room temperature. In fact, the absorption capacity for chloroform at 0 °C can achieve 166 g/g, indicating great low-temperature absorption ability.…”

A comprehensive review on branched nanofibers: Preparations, strategies, and applications

“…Studies proved that sorbents fabricated from nanofibers are the best choice for oil cleanup owing to their high specific surface area. 127 Therefore, branched nanofibers are in great demand for researchers interested in the field of oil cleanup.…”