Flexible and amphiphobic alumina mats were fabricated by (heptadecafluoro-1, 1, 2, 2-tetradecyl)trimethoxysilane (FAS) modification of electrospun alumina mats. The alumina mats were obtained by the sol–gel method combined with an electrospinning process using aluminum nitrate nonahydrate (Al(NO3)3·9H2O) and aluminum isopropoxide (Al(C3H7O)3) as raw materials, nitric acid and acetic acid as catalysts, water as the solvent, and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was applied to tune sol viscosity. When the content of PVP was 1.3 wt%, the alumina mat after modification had higher water contact angle of 134° and oil contact angle of 122° than those with other concentrations. In addition, the alumina mat exhibited a hydrophobic property in the pH range from 1 to 14. The good stability of the prepared fiber mat in weak acidic and alkaline solution may extend its application in many industrial fields.
Graphical Abstract
Flexible and amphiphobic alumina mat was fabricated by modification of electrospun alumina mat, which was prepared by the sol–gel method combined with an electrospinning process.