Multifunctional Nanocomposite Fibrous Architectures for Oil/Water Separation and Sorption ^†

Fibrous nanocomposites have become key enablers for advanced separation technologies due to their tunable structure, high surface area, and ability to integrate multiple functions. I highlight our work on electrospun fibrous nanocomposite membranes, developed through Pickering emulsion templating and bio-inspired design strategies, for efficient oil/water separation and pollutant remediation. Using a Pickering emulsion approach, silica nanoparticles (Nanoshel Pvt. Ltd., Dera Bassi, India) were uniformly distributed within electrospun fibers, creating hierarchical porosity and tailored wettability. The silica nanoparticles acted as a Pickering stabilizer as well as a surface modifier. The resulting nanocomposite membranes exhibited superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic behavior, achieving oil/water separation with excellent fluxes and a rejection efficiency over 99%. The templated nanocomposite structure also enhanced the mechanical stability and anti-fouling performance, ensuring reusability across multiple cycles.

In parallel, inspired by fish gill morphology, we fabricated multifunctional nanofibrous membranes capable of both the demulsification of stable oil-in-water emulsions and the sorption of dissolved pollutants. This dual functionality was achieved through a careful control of the fiber architecture and surface chemistry, enabling membranes to address complex separation challenges in a single platform. Together, these studies demonstrate the transformative potential of combining nanocomposites with rational structural design in fibrous membranes. By bridging Pickering emulsion templating with bio-inspired architectures, we provide versatile pathways for developing next-generation, sustainable membranes for oil/water separation and broader water purification applications.