Low-cost photothermal superhydrophobic aerogel and preparation method and application thereof

Abstract

This invention discloses a low-cost photothermal superhydrophobic aerogel, its preparation method, and its applications. The aerogel comprises a cellulose matrix, an elastic polymer, rigid reinforcing fibers, hydrophobic silica nanoparticles, and carbon black particles providing photothermal conversion functionality. It possesses a vertically arranged porous channel structure, exhibiting both superhydrophobicity and superoleophilicity. This invention uses industrial-grade carbon black to replace expensive nano-photothermal fillers, and prepares a product with efficient, broad-spectrum photothermal conversion, stable superwetting properties, excellent mechanical properties, and functional designability through a simple process of solution blending, directional freeze-drying, and thermal cross-linking. The aerogel of this invention can be heated in situ under light to reduce the viscosity of high-viscosity crude oil, and achieves rapid, high-capacity oil absorption through capillary drive via vertical channels. It can also achieve non-contact recovery via a magnetic field, showing broad application prospects in marine oil spill recovery, industrial oily wastewater treatment, and emergency response to high-viscosity oil spills.

Images