A superelastic and ultralight graphene aerogel with a hydrophobic honeycombed structure for efficient absorption of hazardous organics†

Environmentally friendly graphene-based aerogels have been utilized to recycle leaked organic solvents that pose a threat to the ecological environment. A two-step reduction process assisted by a microbubble technology is developed herein, enabling the successful preparation of an ultralight graphene aerogel (8.13 mg cm⁻³, and 99.63% porosity) with a honeycombed structure. Additionally, the introduction of 2,2-dimethyl-3-methylenenorbornane in the preparation process imparts superelasticity, allowing the aerogel to recover to nearly its original height after 20 axial compression cycles at a maximum strain of 90%. The subsequent annealing process further enhances the hydrophobicity of the graphene aerogel, resulting in a water contact angle of approximately 116°. Its absorption capacities for various organic solvents range from 73.01 to 140.18 g g⁻¹, and it achieves the absorption saturation in about 4 seconds for most organic solvents, demonstrating excellent absorption efficiency. Its superelasticity also enables its reusability through absorption–extrusion and absorption–combustion cyclic measurements. This study offers a novel method to prepare superelastic and ultralight graphene aerogel for efficient absorption of organic solvents for environmental protection.