based on the template with both granulated and black sugar
particles was approximately 1000 wt %. Because the PDMS
materials show a relatively excellent chemical inertness, our
PDMS sponge may possibly be used for both nonpolar and
polar organic solvents, with great potential for the removal of
toxic organic contaminants and oil spills from water. Swelling of
the PDMS sponge was occasionally observed along with the
absorption of organic solvents because the organic solvents can
diffuse into the PDMS material. Nevertheless, this swelling did
not influence the sponge’s absorption properties.
When the PDMS sponge is immersed in water, it does not
absorb water, as previously mentioned. However, during the
experiment, it seemed as if intermittent water absorption was
taking place. This was mainly due to water adhering to the surface
of the PDMS sponge, which arises from the pinning effect; we
were able to remove the water by gently wiping the surfaces. In
contrast, the PDMS sponge can actively absorb and remove oils
spreading on the water surface. Transformer oil distributed on
the surface of a water bath formed a thin, disk-like shape with a
thickness of 2 to 3mmin the central region. A hexahedral-shaped
PDMS sponge was placed in the film and was suspended on top
of the distributed oil surface (see the Supporting Information,
Figure S3). We observed that the PDMS sponge floated on
the water surface and moved freely throughout the oil area.
Whenever the PDMS sponge came into contact with the oil, it
instantaneously absorbed the oil film, resulting in a local whitecolored
region that indicated the presence of filtered water. The
PDMS sponge tended to drift on the remaining area of the oil
film due to its water-repelling and oil-wetting properties, which
leads to a unique floating-and-cleaning capability that is particularly
useful for cleaning up oil spills. To better verify the sponge’s
practical applications, Figure 4a illustrates the detailed process of
transformer oil absorption by a typical PDMS sponge sample.
After cutting the PDMS sponge into small pieces, the pieces of
the PDMS sponge were placed in a mixture of oil and water.
Then, the samples were briefly vortexed to artificially shake
the beaker containing the mixture and the PDMS sponge pieces,
mimicking the motion of ocean waves. The obtained results
show that all of the oils on the water surface can be completely
absorbed into the PDMS sponge within a few seconds (For
details on sponge formation, see the Supporting Information,
Movie 3). Moreover, when this experiment was performed in
seawater, which contains numerous ions such as Cl, Na+, Mg2+,
etc., a similar degree of absorption was observed.
The recyclability of the PDMS sponge and the recoverability
of oils and organic solvents address key requirements in practical
oil cleanup applications. The absorbed oils and organic solvents
in the PDMS sponge can be removed and reused by manually
squeezing the PDMS sponge due to the springy nature of the
PDMS material (Figure 4b). As such, the proposed PDMS
sponge is a desirable material in that it facilitates the recycling
of oil-absorbent materials by allowing for the repeated capture
and release of oils and organic solvents. To test the recyclability
of the PDMS sponge as an absorbent material, we squeezed the
PDMS sponge and immediately immersed it in an organic
solvent (e.g., ethanol) 20 times after absorbing the transformer
oil; the sponge weight was measured before and after drying
(Figure 4b). The reason for immersing the oil-absorbed PDMS
sponge in ethanol was so to ensure that any oil remaining after
squeezing the oil-soaked PDMS sponge would be completely
exuded into the ethanol. The results show that the absorption
capacity did not deteriorate, and the weight of a dry PDMS
based on the template with both granulated and black sugar
particles was approximately 1000 wt %. Because the PDMS
materials show a relatively excellent chemical inertness, our
PDMS sponge may possibly be used for both nonpolar and
polar organic solvents, with great potential for the removal of
toxic organic contaminants and oil spills from water. Swelling of
the PDMS sponge was occasionally observed along with the
absorption of organic solvents because the organic solvents can
diffuse into the PDMS material. Nevertheless, this swelling did
not influence the sponge’s absorption properties.
When the PDMS sponge is immersed in water, it does not
absorb water, as previously mentioned. However, during the
experiment, it seemed as if intermittent water absorption was
taking place. This was mainly due to water adhering to the surface
of the PDMS sponge, which arises from the pinning effect; we
were able to remove the water by gently wiping the surfaces. In
contrast, the PDMS sponge can actively absorb and remove oils
spreading on the water surface. Transformer oil distributed on
the surface of a water bath formed a thin, disk-like shape with a
thickness of 2 to 3mmin the central region. A hexahedral-shaped
PDMS sponge was placed in the film and was suspended on top
of the distributed oil surface (see the Supporting Information,
Figure S3). We observed that the PDMS sponge floated on
the water surface and moved freely throughout the oil area.
Whenever the PDMS sponge came into contact with the oil, it
instantaneously absorbed the oil film, resulting in a local whitecolored
region that indicated the presence of filtered water. The
PDMS sponge tended to drift on the remaining area of the oil
film due to its water-repelling and oil-wetting properties, which
leads to a unique floating-and-cleaning capability that is particularly
useful for cleaning up oil spills. To better verify the sponge’s
practical applications, Figure 4a illustrates the detailed process of
transformer oil absorption by a typical PDMS sponge sample.
After cutting the PDMS sponge into small pieces, the pieces of
the PDMS sponge were placed in a mixture of oil and water.
Then, the samples were briefly vortexed to artificially shake
the beaker containing the mixture and the PDMS sponge pieces,
mimicking the motion of ocean waves. The obtained results
show that all of the oils on the water surface can be completely
absorbed into the PDMS sponge within a few seconds (For
details on sponge formation, see the Supporting Information,
Movie 3). Moreover, when this experiment was performed in
seawater, which contains numerous ions such as Cl, Na+, Mg2+,
etc., a similar degree of absorption was observed.
The recyclability of the PDMS sponge and the recoverability
of oils and organic solvents address key requirements in practical
oil cleanup applications. The absorbed oils and organic solvents
in the PDMS sponge can be removed and reused by manually
squeezing the PDMS sponge due to the springy nature of the
PDMS material (Figure 4b). As such, the proposed PDMS
sponge is a desirable material in that it facilitates the recycling
of oil-absorbent materials by allowing for the repeated capture
and release of oils and organic solvents. To test the recyclability
of the PDMS sponge as an absorbent material, we squeezed the
PDMS sponge and immediately immersed it in an organic
solvent (e.g., ethanol) 20 times after absorbing the transformer
oil; the sponge weight was measured before and after drying
(Figure 4b). The reason for immersing the oil-absorbed PDMS
sponge in ethanol was so to ensure that any oil remaining after
squeezing the oil-soaked PDMS sponge would be completely
exuded into the ethanol. The results show that the absorption
capacity did not deteriorate, and the weight of a dry PDMS
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