Construction and Regulation of a Superhydrophobic Sponge via In Situ Anchoring of a Hyper-Cross-Linked Polymer for Efficient Oil/Water Separation

In the ever-growing environmental concerns caused by crude oil spills and solvent discharges, our study pioneered an ingenious approach to fabricate superhydrophobic melamine formaldehyde (HMF) materials through in situ anchoring of a porous hyper-cross-linked polymer (HCP) and achieved stable integration of HCP on the MF surface by covalent bonds and hydrogen bonds instead of traditional adhesives. The resulting composite material exhibits exceptional performance with an oil adsorption capacity of 130 mL/g, a filtration/separation efficiency exceeding 99%, and remarkable environmental resistance and recyclability. The robust interfacial strength and high degree of cross-linking porous HCP facilitate tailorable design and easy adjustment of pore structures and ensure repeated use through simple squeezing. Notably, the hydrophobicity and porous structure of the sponge can be conveniently regulated by controlling the deposition amount of HCP, realizing a high adsorption capacity and/or efficient emulsion separation on demand. This study not only contributes to the advancement of wettability materials but also presents an efficient, versatile, and convenient method and toolbox to address diverse oil/water separation challenges, paving the way for sustainable environmental solutions and marking a significant stride toward a cleaner future.