Three-dimensional and flexible carbon nanofiber mat by one-step electrospinning for efficient oil/water separation

Electrospun carbon materials are widely used in oil-water separation because of their excellent hydrophobicity and lipophilicity , good chemical stability, designable structure and easy adjustment of porosity. However, the traditional electrospun carbon fiber materials are often flat membranes with poor flexibility. Herein, a three-dimensional (3D) flexible carbon nanofiber mat (CNFM) was fabricated by humidity-induced electrospinning and followed carbonization processing. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was used as the carbon source while polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was used as the pore-forming and nitrogen doping component. CNFM-60 exhibited a hydrophobic surface (WCA≈137.5°), large oil flux (4036 L m −1 h −1 ), exceptional oil-water separation efficiency (>98.5%), and good oil adsorption performance (oil that weighs 48 times its own) with superior flexibility. Thus this material has great potential for efficient oil-water separation in various circumstances.