Synthesis of ZrO2/CeO2 composite coating with self-cleaning property for oil-water separation

In the context of the escalating global water scarcity issue and the growing awareness of environmental protection, the purification and decontamination of wastewater from different sources have become of utmost necessity. This study was dedicated to fabricating a material capable of effectively mitigating membrane contamination for oil-water separation applications. A superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobicitic cerium oxide/zirconia composite coating (CeO2/ZrO2) was synthesized on a stainless-steel substrate by the sol-gel method. The distinctive rough network structure of the coating enables a water contact angle of 0 degrees and an underwater oil contact angle as high as 169 degrees. The coating not only effectively segregates various oil-water mixtures but also transcends the service life limitations associated with traditional ceramic membranes. Upon 80 min of visible light irradiation, the contact angle of this coating diminishes from 58 degrees to 15 degrees, signifying its selfcleaning ability. It can be considered that this durable and easily repairable coating has a promising application prospect in the field of oil-water separation.