A modified mussel-inspired method to fabricate TiO2 decorated superhydrophilic PVDF membrane for oil/water separation

Binding nanoparticles on complex structured materials surface is an important issue for nanotechnology, such as obtain an superwetting surface. To fabricate a highly nanoparticles decorated polymer membrane with superior surface wettability, a facile and environmentally method stills remains challenge. Taken advantage from the mussel-inspired method, we reported here that the TiO2 nanoparticles were directly anchored on the surface of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membrane, making the intrinsic hydrophobic polymer membrane become hydrophilic, what's more, the mussel inspired method was modified by introducing a silane coupling agent KH550, the ability to bind nanoparticles was retained and the as-prepared membrane turn from a common hydrophilic state to superhydrophilic state. Besides, the as-prepared superhydrophilic PVDF membrane could be applied on the separation of various kinds of surfactant stabilized oil-in-water emulsion with an ultrahigh efficiency nearly 99% and also shows durable oil resistance and antifouling performance, thus make the membrane easily to recycle. In addition, due to the universality of dopamine, this surface modification method should also be applicable on other organic–inorganic hybrid materials.