A flexible and durable core/shell nanowire membrane enabling ultralow fouling separation of oil/water emulsions in harsh environments

Membrane fouling and durability are significant obstacles in treating oily wastewater, especially for surfactantstabilized oil-in-water emulsions with nanoscale droplets under harsh conditions. This study introduces a flexible and robust core/shell nanowire membrane that achieves highly efficient emulsion separation with ultralow fouling. The membrane is formed from a three-dimensional network of inorganic nanowire cores coated with hydrophilic hydrogel shells, giving it superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic properties. This structure ensures extremely low oil adhesion and allows selective water transport while effectively repelling oil droplets. As a result, the membrane delivers separation efficiencies above 99.9% for various surfactant-stabilized emulsions and maintains a high permeate flux exceeding 370 L center dot m- 2 center dot h- 1 center dot bar- 1. It shows stable performance over repeated cycles with minimal flux loss, and fouling is easily removed by simple water rinsing, eliminating the need for chemicals. The strong cohesion between the core and shell supports excellent mechanical flexibility and durability under acidic, alkaline, and saline conditions. Computational studies using density functional theory and molecular dynamics confirm that the engineered core/shell interface suppresses oil adsorption and enhances selective water transport, offering a scalable solution for advanced oily wastewater treatment.