Facile fabrication of flexible magnetic nanohybrid membrane with amphiphobic surface based on bacterial cellulose

Flexible magnetic membranes based on bacterial cellulose (BC) with amphiphobicity were prepared firstly by the in situ synthesis of the Fe3O4 nanoparticles on the BC nanofibers and then the fluoroalkyl silane (FAS) modification. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicated the Fe3O4 nanoparticles had a spinel structure and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) revealed the Fe3O4 nanoparticles were homogeneously deposited on the BC nanofibers. FT-infrared (FTIR) spectra and energy-dispersive spectrum (EDS) demonstrated the presence of FAS. After FAS modification on the magnetic BC membrane prepared by the in situ synthesis of the Fe3O4 nanoparticles, the surface wettability of BC membrane was converted from amphiphilicity to amphiphobicity. The fluorinated membrane with appropriate roughness showed the highest water contact angle (WCA) of 130° and oil contact angle (OCA) of 112°. Additionally, the magnetometric measurements revealed that the membranes exhibited the superparamagnetic behavior and can be magnetically actuated. Magnetically responsive BC membrane with hydrophobic and lipophobic surface would have potential applications in electronic actuators, magnetographic printing, information storage, electromagnetic shielding coating and anti-counterfeit.