Thermo‐controlled, self‐released smart wood tailored by nanotechnology for fast clean‐up of highly viscous liquids
Yahui Cai,
Jianfei Wu,
Kaili Wang,
Youming Dong,
Jundie Hu,
Jiafu Qu,
Dan Tian,
Jianzhang Li,
Qiliang Fu
Affiliations
Yahui Cai
Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing China
Jianfei Wu
Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing China
Kaili Wang
Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing China
Youming Dong
Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing China
Jundie Hu
School of Materials Science and Engineering Suzhou University of Science and Technology Suzhou China
Jiafu Qu
School of Materials Science and Engineering Suzhou University of Science and Technology Suzhou China
Dan Tian
Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing China
Jianzhang Li
Co‐Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing China
Abstract Designing highly porous materials is of great importance for liquid separation, water purification, and disinfection, such as spill oil cleaning and recycling, seawater desalting, and oil/water separation. However, a remaining challenge is to produce porous materials with the characteristics of fast absorption, continuous directional transport, and self‐release of viscous liquid. Herein, a functional cellulosic composite is reported by the chemical treatment and functionalization of wood resulting in a smart wood that can thermally self‐release and separate high viscosity oil. The smart wood has a high absorption speed of 1398 mL/(m2·s) (ethylene glycol) and a maximum absorption capacity of 47.2 g/g (chloroform) due to its intrinsic vertical micro/nanoscale channel structure, low tortuosity, and high porosity. Moreover, the switchable wettability is achieved by the surface coating of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) on the porous wood, which enables the collection and removal of oil from the oil/water mixture. The high viscosity oil can be automatically released due to the passive oil release at room temperature. The release capacity of the smart wood remains above 91% after 15 cyclic tests. We envision that this functional smart wood could be extended to a wide range of applications in smart hydrogels, microfluidics, artificial drug release, and environmental restoration.
