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Anion-selective capacitive deionization using functionalized rGO thin films

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Abstract

Drinking water shortage is worsening. Capacitive deionization (CDI) of saltwater has gained attention due to its low energy consumption and environmental friendliness. A single anion exchange membrane (AEM) can selectively move anions to positive electrodes for better desalination performances. Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)-functionalized reduced graphene oxide (PrGO) serves as an AEM for CDI. The AC and PrGO coated AC electrode pair (AC‖PrGO/AC) for CDI of saltwater under + 1.5 V for 1 h reaches a high optimized-salt removal and electrosorption capacity. This work presents the feasibility using the high-efficiency and facile PrGO anion-selective thin film layer served as an AEM analog for a simplified and low-cost membrane-CDI process to enhance desalination performances for potential water recycling and reuse from salt, inorganic waste or metal-contaminated ground waters.

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The data that support this study will be shared upon reasonable request to the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgments

Financial supports of the Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology (108-2221-E-006-165-MY3, 109-2221-E-006-042-MY3 and 110-2221-E-006-107-MY2) are gratefully acknowledged.

Funding

Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology (108-2221-E-006-165-MY3, 109-2221-E-006-042-MY3 and 110-2221-E-006-107-MY2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan

    H.-C. Cheng, P.-A. Chen, S.-H. Liu, Y.-J. Tuan & Hong Paul Wang

  2. Department of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, Tamkang University, New Taipei City, 25137, Taiwan

    C.-Y. Peng

Authors
  1. H.-C. Cheng
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  2. P.-A. Chen
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  3. C.-Y. Peng
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  4. S.-H. Liu
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  5. Y.-J. Tuan
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  6. Hong Paul Wang
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Contributions

HCC and HPW contributed to the study conception and design. Material synthesis, data collection, analysis and manuscript preparation were performed by HCC. PAC and HPW have made a major improvement of the 1st-draft manuscript. CYP, SHL, YJT and HPW supervised this work. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hong Paul Wang.

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Cheng, HC., Chen, PA., Peng, CY. et al. Anion-selective capacitive deionization using functionalized rGO thin films. MRS Communications 13, 1342–1348 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43579-023-00465-9

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