{
  "abstract": "Superhydrophobic and superoleophilic hierarchical urchin-like copper oxide powders were synthesized by a facile one-step method without the use of low-surface-energy modifiers. The selective wettability of the powders toward water and oil makes them suitable for oil adsorption from oil-in-water emulsions. In addition, the hierarchical CuO structures were grown in situ on a stainless-steel mesh, which was used for the separation of heavy oil–water mixtures. The synergistic combination of micro-/nanoscale roughness and a reduction in the polar component of surface free energy through hydroxylation of the copper oxide surface likely leads to a significant decrease in wettability and the development of superhydrophobic and superoleophilic properties, as evidenced by a static water contact angle of 161.1° ± 2° and an oil contact angle of 0°, measured on the CuO-coated mesh surface. The superhydrophobic copper oxide particles demonstrated a high oil adsorption selectivity greater than 19. The immiscible chloroform/water mixture was separated via a simple filtration method using a superhydrophobic/superoleophilic copper oxide–coated mesh filter, achieving a separation efficiency of approximately 98% and a chloroform permeation flux of about 7300 L m⁻² h⁻¹. In addition, copper oxide powder showed promising potential as a selective oil adsorbent for the treatment of oil-in-water emulsions and the cleanup of oil spills when used in the form of sorbent booms or pillows.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 1,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Elmira Velayi"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/809d3cn192xas.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41598-026-75307-4",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "809d3cn192xas",
  "issns": [
    "2045-2322"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-75307-4",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2508|Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221306315",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-75307-4_reference.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-11",
  "publisher": "Springer Science and Business Media LLC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/809d3cn192xas.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:26Z",
      "native_id": "10.1038/s41598-026-75307-4",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-75307-4"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:2508|Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Fabrication of superhydrophobic and superoleophilic copper oxide nanostructures without organic modifiers for oil–water separation",
  "title_text": "Fabrication of superhydrophobic and superoleophilic copper oxide nanostructures without organic modifiers for oil–water separation",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:26Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/809d3cn192xas",
  "venue": "Scientific Reports",
  "versions": []
}