Robust MXene-based superhydrophobic fabrics for efficient separation of high-viscosity lubricating oil/water emulsions

Deteriorated lubricating oil poses separation challenges due to its high viscosity. To address this issue, this paper introduces a superhydrophobic cotton fabric prepared via a one-pot method using PDA/MXene/SiO2. The incorporation of PDA and MXene endows this fabric with superior photothermal properties, leading to its exceptional performance in reducing lubricating oil viscosity by 62.97%. This remarkable viscosity reduction enables the fabric to excel in separating high-viscosity emulsions, achieving a separation efficiency of up to 98%. The superhydrophobic fabric exhibits an adsorption capacity of 3.03 g g-1. Regarding stability, the fabric maintains its superhydrophobic state even after being soaked in acid (pH = 2 for 12 hours) and alkali (pH = 12 for 4 hours), and subjected to ethanol ultrasonication (12 hours) and mechanical abrasion (60 cycles). Furthermore, TiO2, the oxidized product of MXene, can facilitate the restoration of the superhydrophobic state by adsorbing atmospheric pollutants such as carbon.