Multifunctional superhydrophobic sol with visible light response and its application in water treatment

Superhydrophobic filter paper, cotton and fabric with visible light response performance were produced by immersion in precursor solution. The prepared superhydrophobic composites were suitable for various substrates and enabled the separation of organic solvents and water, and the photodegradation of contaminants. Superhydrophobic filter paper, cotton and fabric achieved oil–water separation efficiency of 99.7%, 99.8% and 99.6% and photoresponse capacity of 424, 431 and 432 nm, respectively. The main active substance of the photodegradation process was h+, according to the calculated reaction coefficient. The positions of the valence and conduction bands of Bi2WO6 were determined to be 2.465 and −0.385 eV. Finally, the mechanical stability between the functional particles and the substrate was analyzed to verify the feasibility of the bulk material design.