Preparation and properties of superhydrophobic cotton fabric with micro-nano structure for self-cleaning, UV shielding and oil-water separation

Superhydrophobic cotton fabric made by H-MIL-100(Fe)/PDMS. • Excellent self-cleaning, UV shielding, and oil-water separation. • Efficient oil-water separation with stable cyclic performance. • Good mechanical and chemical durability for practical use. The discharge of oil-containing wastewater not only pollutes water bodies but also poses a threat to human health and the living environment. Therefore, the development of multifunctional textiles integrating stain resistance, UV protection, and efficient oil-water separation has become a research hotspot. In this study, iron-based metal-organic framework (MOF), NH 2 -MIL-100(Fe), was used as the core material. Hydrophobic H-MIL-100(Fe) was constructed through hydrothermal synthesis and surface modification with stearic acid (SA), and then compounded with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). A micro-nano hierarchical structured coating was fabricated on the surface of cotton fabric via a vibration-curing process. Experimental results showed that the coated cotton fabric exhibited superhydrophobicity (water contact angle, WCA = 156°, sliding angle = 8°) and self-cleaning properties. After mechanical friction or immersion in acid-base solutions (pH = 1–13), the WCA still remained at 142 ± 2°. The ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) reached 101.9. Oil-water separation tests indicated that the separation efficiency for four types of oil-water mixtures (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, toluene, and chloroform) was all over 97%, with a flux ranging from 3315 to 3500 L·m −2 ·h −1 . After 10 cycles of separation, the efficiency was still maintained at 98%, demonstrating excellent corrosion resistance and mechanical stability. In this study, the synergistic regulation of the micro-nano structure of MOF and the low surface energy of PDMS realized the multifunctional integration of cotton fabric, providing a new material solution for environmental remediation and outdoor protection. Download: Download high-res image (203KB) Download: Download full-size image