Monolithic robust hybrid sponge with enhanced light adsorption and ultrafast photothermal heating rate for rapid oil cleaning

It remains a significant challenge to develop a photothermal adsorbent with a heating response as fast as a joule-heating adsorbent and simultaneously possessing excellent mechanical stability and reusability for rapid oil cleaning. Here, we report a novel monolithic design to fabricate a photothermal hybrid sponge for rapid oil cleaning by integrating graphite interlayer compounds as photothermal units into the three-dimensional photothermal network of carbon nanotubes. This unique monolithic design enabled the hybrid sponge to present excellent photothermal performance: firstly, the superhydrophobic hybrid sponge has low thermal resistance resulting from the defectless surface; secondly, the photothermal units were weaved in the photothermal network, preventing detachment in the cycling and providing ultrafast photothermal heating rate. The hybrid sponge rises to 81 °C in merely 25 s under irradiation (1 Sun), superior to most photothermal oil adsorbents reported so far. This study provides a new structural design for constructing photothermal adsorbents with a fast-heating response for rapid crude oil cleaning.