Graphene Oxide-Phytic Acid Functionalised Surface for Superhydrophilic and Underwater Superoleophobic Applications

Superhydrophilic and simultaneous underwater superoleophobic coatings have recently received extensive attention due to their remarkable selectivity towards oil and water. However, their fabrication has been restricted by complex preparation processes and low lifecycle. Therefore, this thesis aims to synthesize such coatings by modifying the surface wettability of graphene oxide nanomaterials. While superhydrophilicity facilitates water film formation at the interface, underwater superoleophobicity prevents oil adhesion based on the repulsive behaviour of water film to oil. This research establishes a promising avenue towards tuning graphene oxide-based coatings for different oil/water separation applications, including separating sub-micron-sized oil-in-water emulsions and preventing oily wax adhesion.