Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 film coated stainless steel meshes for highly efficient oil/water separation.

Highly compact ZIF-8 film coated stainless steel meshes (ZFCMs) are simply fabricated via the seeding method. The ZFCMs become more hydrophilic in air and close to superoleophobic under water. The prewetting induced underwater oleophobicity of the ZFCMs has been reported here for the first time. Water-prewetted ZFCMs possess excellent aqueous stability and can efficiently separate various oil/water mixtures.