Simple Preparation of Self‐Cleaning Superhydrophobic PDMS@LDH@PET Fabrics Achieves Efficient Oil‐Water Separation

ABSTRACT Inspired by the lotus leaf effect, a superhydrophobic fabric named PDMS@LDH@PET was successfully prepared through hydrothermal synthesis. This method enabled the controlled growth of layered double hydroxide (LDH) on the surface of a polyester fabric substrate. Following this, a functional coating of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) was applied using solution impregnation to efficiently separate oil‐water mixtures. The resulting fabric achieved a contact angle of 153.3 ° ± 2.3 ° , with a separation efficiency as high as 99.24%. The separation flux for n‐hexane reached 17,192.4 L·m −2 ·h −1 . Notably, after 40 cycles of abrasion with 600‐grit sandpaper, the water contact angle remained above 142°, and the separation efficiency stayed above 98% even after 40 separation cycles. The fabric also demonstrated good stability in the presence of acidic and alkaline salts as well as organic solvents. Furthermore, its superhydrophobic properties provide self‐cleaning performance, helping to prevent contamination from sewage and dust.