High performance graphene-melamine sponge prepared via eco-friendly and cost-effective process

An eco-friendly and cost-effective preparation process for high performance graphene-melamine sponge is reported in this article. Different from traditional preparation process through two steps including dip-coating graphene oxide on sponge skeletons and reducing graphene oxide to graphene, a new process has been developed in this work that the coating and reducing of graphene oxide can be carried out simultaneously in a one-pot hydrothermal reaction with suitable concentration of graphene oxide aqueous dispersion. The eco-friendly reduction agent water-soluble ascorbic acid instead of toxic hydrazine hydrate works efficiently in this process. The as prepared superhydrophobic and superoleophilic graphene-melamine sponge exhibits high adsorption capacity for various oils and organic solvents and excellent selective adsorption performance for pump oil and chloroform. Therefore, the prepared graphene-melamine sponge is a cost-effective and environmental friendly material which certainly can find applications in polluted water treatment. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].