Hollow three-dimensional graphene reinforced with poly (methyl methacrylate) for selective absorption of oil

Removal of oil from water through absorbent materials such as graphene proves to be an excellent technique due to its simplicity and recoverability. However, there are several issues encountered such as poor structural integrity and complexity of the fabrication process. In this study, the hollow three-dimensional graphene (H3DG) grown using chemical vapor deposition technique is strengthened by infusing poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) for structural robustness and better recovery process. The overall porous nature of the H3TG and the gaps created within the graphene layers after the nickel etching provides an excellent absorption capacity of up to 48.132 g g�1. Besides, the polymeric reinforcement gives additional flexibility and improved mechanical properties such as reduced elastic modulus and ultimate tensile strength at 452.41 MPa and 19.05 kPa, respectively, as compared to the standalone H3TG. The presence of PMMA is also advantageous as the absorbed oil is recoverable by compression and reused with only 3.616 reduction in oil absorption performance after 10 cycles. © 2020 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.