Although some advances have been made in oil clean-up technology, the tiny micron-sized droplets of oil remain difficult to remove, and this recent breakthrough could address that issue.
According to the BBC, the needles developed by the researchers are .5 millimeter long, made from copper and a silicone polymer, and are arranged in hexagonal arrays. The researchers report that these arrays can remove about 99% of oil mixed with water.
Tiny arrays of copper spikes can pull tiny oil droplets out of dirty water, and may lead to more effective oil spill cleanups.