Preparation of CuS/SiO2 Composite Modified Aerogel and Its Superoleophobic and Photocatalytic Properties

In this study, CuS/SiO2 composite modified aerogel was prepared by the incorporation of hollow spherical CuS into methyltrimethoxysilane-based SiO2 sol and modification with hexadeca-fluorodecyltriethoxysilane via acid-base catalyzed sol-gel reaction and drying under ambient pressure. The CuS/SiO2 composite modified aerogel was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry, scanning electron microscope (SEM), nitrogen gas adsorption and desorption and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The effects of CuS and fluorosilane concentration on density and porosity of aerogel, oleophobic and photocatalytic properties were evaluated. The results showed that structure and physical properties of aerogel had some effect by introducing CuS and fluorosilane, and the CuS/SiO2 composite modified aerogel with density of 0.146 g/cm(3) and specific surface area of 241 m(2)/g achieved super-oleophobicity with oil contact angle of 152.8 degrees and sliding angle of 10 degrees, and good photocatalytic properties for methylene blue.