Porous copper surfaces with improved superhydrophobicity under oil and their application in oil separation and capture from water.

The repeatable wettability of the facile-to-fabricate porous copper surface shows superhydrophobicity in air and improved superhydrophobicity under oil. The resultant 3D copper foam can separate and capture oils from water with high separation efficiency, fast capture kinetics, fine mechanical resistance to water impact, and good recyclability.