Preparation And Characteristics Of Oil-water Separation Biomimetic Superhydrophobic Copper-mesh Surface

Electrospinning, soaking and sol-gel have been used to prepare superhydrophobic materials up to now. Generally speaking, these materials are inherently hydrophobic, or theie surface are modified by organic compounds with F. Although, the copper si inherently hydrophilic, we prepared the nano copper mesh with superhydrophobic property. We characterize the nano copper mesh with Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray Diffraction, Optical Contact Angle Meter, the oil-water separation efficiency was detected by oil-water separator which we made it. Our main work is listed as follows:(1) With electric brush-plating equipment, we prepare different nano copper meshes depending on the voltage, solution composition, plating temperature and so on. We can see the unique structure from the SEM images with different magnifications, which looks like the lotus leaf. There is only nanocrystalline copper produced during the brush-plating with the EDS, XPS and X-ray Diffraction. And there is no other elements on the copper mesh surface. We find that the best voltage is 3V with comparing these different SEM photos. There is significantly correspondence between plating voltage and contact angle. When the plating voltage is 3V, the contact angle is the largest.(2) The model of the wetting theory have been explored in the paper. The bottom of the droplet is contact with the air, whichis similar to the liquid-solid surface in the Cassie theory.We calculate the static contact angle in theory with tha base surface contact angle and Cassie theory. We find that the contact angle in theory is 158° which is similar to 151° we distact. So we could explain the hydrophobic phenomenon of copper mesh with Cassie theory.(3) The process oil-water separation of kerosene is observed by digital camera. We calculate the oil-water separation efficiency, and explain the mechanism of oil-water separation from the perspective of the surface tension. The oil on the surface and the inside surface of breaker have been ignored, and the efficiency of oil-water separation is 82%.