Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>In this study, a fluorine-free, eco-friendly BiFeO₃@g-C₃N₄/TEOS-PDMS hybrid-coated smart cotton fabric was successfully developed via an integrated sol-gel and dip-coating approach for multifunctional environmental remediation. Comprehensive structural, morphological, and spectroscopic analyzes (XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX, XPS, VSM, and DRS) confirmed the uniform anchoring of the magnetic perovskite BiFeO₃ and g-C₃N₄ nanocomposite onto the cellulosic fibers through a cross-linked siloxane network. The modified fabric exhibits exceptional superhydrophobic/superoleophilic wettability with water contact angles exceeding 165°, outstanding mechanical durability against abrasion, and a gravity-driven oil-water separation efficiency greater than 99% for both light and heavy organic solvents. Furthermore, the embedded ferromagnetic BiFeO₃ nanoparticles enable remotely controllable active oil collection under an external magnetic field. Under UVA and visible-light irradiation, the hybrid textile achieves superior Rhodamine B degradation efficiencies of 77% and 83%, respectively, driven by a direct Z-scheme charge-transfer mechanism that effectively preserves strong redox potentials while simultaneously generating superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. The multifunctional platform maintains high stability, structural integrity, and reusability over 10 consecutive separation cycles and 5 photocatalytic cycles, offering a sustainable and versatile approach for industrial wastewater treatment and oil spill cleanup.</p>