Preparation of CuS/SiO2 Composite Modified Aerogel and Its Superoleophobic and Photocatalytic Properties

In this study, CuS/SiO 2 composite modified aerogel was prepared by the incorporation of hollow spherical CuS into methyltrimethoxysilane-based SiO 2 sol and modification with hexadecafluorodecyltriethoxysilane via acid-base catalyzed sol–gel reaction and drying under ambient pressure. The CuS/SiO 2 composite modified aerogel was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry, scanning electron microscope (SEM), nitrogen gas adsorption and desorption and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The effects of CuS and fluorosilane concentration on density and porosity of aerogel, oleophobic and photocatalytic properties were evaluated. The results showed that structure and physical properties of aerogel had some effect by introducing CuS and fluorosilane, and the CuS/SiO 2 composite modified aerogel with density of 0.146[Formula: see text]g/cm 3 and specific surface area of 241[Formula: see text]m 2 /g achieved super-oleophobicity with oil contact angle of 152.8 ∘ and sliding angle of 10 ∘ , and good photocatalytic properties for methylene blue.