ABSTRACT Rapid and large‐scale oil spill remediation remains an urgent environmental and technological challenge. Here, we present a transformative, multifunctional bio‐inspired platform for on‐site, remotely actuated, and contactless oil‐water separation that integrates an advanced membrane with electronics deployment. Here, we present a sea‐urchin‐mimetic, fluorine/silane‐free composite that enables remote, on‐site oil‐water separation through molecular‐level modulation of surface energy and hierarchical roughness through micro/nano structures. The architecture integrates oleic acid‐functionalized barium carbonate (FBC) with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets, where FBC introduces polar–nonpolar asymmetry and spine‐like protrusions, while rGO contributes ultra‐low surface energy and electron‐delocalized reinforcement. This dual design stabilizes a metastable Cassie–Baxter state by coupling air entrapment with π – π ‐driven energy minimization at the solid–liquid interface, resulting in extreme water repellency (WCA > 150°) and instantaneous oil affinity (OCA ≈ 0°). The coating exhibits exceptional corrosion inhibition (>90%) in simulated seawater, self‐cleaning against complex biofluids and beverages, and high‐capacity oil uptake (15–65 g/g) with >97% efficiency and recyclability after repeated use. Integrated into a dolphin‐inspired, Wi‐Fi‐controlled mini‐bot system, this material enables remotely controlled, contactless oil recovery, establishing a new paradigm in adaptive, non‐messy, hazard‐free oil‐spill remediation in contaminated zones.
Ghadei et al. (Sun,) studied this question.