Photothermally Responsive MXene-Modified Polyvinylidene Fluoride Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes for Tunable and Efficient Oil–Water Separation

Abstract

The growing threat of oil pollution necessitates the development of advanced remediation technologies. The photothermally responsive polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) electrospun nanofibrous membranes (ENMs) with the modification of MXene nano-sheets were fabricated via electrospinning technology for efficient oil–water separation in this study. Systematic optimization revealed that the 16 wt% PVDF ENM and 0.25 wt% PVDF/MXene had improved mechanical strength and hydrophobicity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the homogeneous dispersion of MXene within the PVDF matrix, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated interfacial interactions induced by MXene incorporation. The PVDF/MXene ENM exhibited remarkable photothermal performance, reaching 62.1°C within 5 min under one sunlight irradiation, resulting in a 122% increase compared to that of pure PVDF ENM. MXene modification significantly improved the oil absorption capacity of the PVDF/MXene ENM, especially elevating silicone oil uptake from 51.64 g/g to 134.26 g/g. The oil absorption cycle of the PVDF/MXene ENM could be more than 20 times. This work will provide a scalable strategy for developing smart oil-remediation materials with high efficiency, solar-driven regeneration, and practical applicability in marine spill recovery.