Superamphiphilic Ti-Based Nanowire-Woven Microporous Array Gate Enabling on-Demand Water–Oil Separation

Abstract

The uncontrolled release of industrial wastewater, domestic sewage, and frequent crude oil spills has impacted both the environment and human health. Hence, finding efficient and effective methods to treat oil-contaminated wastewater has become a critical area of focus. Herein, we demonstrate a superamphiphilic titanium-based (Ti-based) nanowire-woven microporous array gate enabling water–oil separation. The results showed that the microporous array gate has the ability to regulate liquid pressure on demand and quickly self-clean its surface. It is reusable multiple times and remains unaffected by the temperature of the oil–water separation liquid. Additionally, the separation flux and efficiency of the microporous array gate can reach up to 37,000 L/m²/h and 99.1%, respectively. Further research reveals that the nanowire structural layer plays a crucial role in the oil–water separation process. This work has potential applications in designing water–oil separation devices with on-demand pressure regulation, self-cleaning capabilities, and high efficiency.