Facile fabrication of a highly durable and flexible MoS₂@RTV sponge for efficient oil-water separation

Advanced macro-porous sorbent materials with three-dimensional wettability surfaces have been considered as traditional candidates for wastewater treatment. However, limitations including poor mechanical durability and robust stability in harsh conditions have often impeded their water-decontamination performance. Here, we present a simple and inexpensive dip-coating-curing strategy for the fabrication of a robust, eco-friendly superhydrophobic and superoleophilic MoS₂ coated melamine-formaldehyde sponges by modification with room temperature vulcanized (RTV) silicone rubber. These sponges would absorb a broad variety of oils and organic solvents with high selectivity, excellent mechanical durability, robust recyclability, good abrasion resistant and inertness to corrosive environments, thus showing great potential as efficient absorbents for water remediation and oil recovery.