Facile Preparation of Robust Superhydrophobic Cotton Textile for Self-Cleaning and Oil–Water Separation

Abstract

A facile and mild dip-coating method of fabricating superhydrophobic coating for cotton textiles was proposed. Cotton fabric was treated with TiO2 sol prepared under mild conditions and subsequently dip-coated by fluoropolymer (PHM). The PHM was synthesized by copolymerization of hexafluorobutyl methacrylate (HFBMA) and 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) to replace long-chain fluoroalkylsilanes, which are costly and potentially harmful. The coated textile displayed wonderful superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 153.5°. Additionally, the stability of the coated textile was tested by placement in acidic and alkali solutions, ultrasonic processing, and washing, during which it exhibited desirable durability. Furthermore, the surface showed an excellent biomimetic self-cleaning effect of removing both liquid pollutant and solid powder stains. Importantly, the prepared textile exhibited efficient oil–water separation for its superhydrophobicity and superoleophilicity. These advantages make it an ideal material for large-scale industrial applications under various conditions.