Efficiency Enhancement of Electro-Adsorption Desalination Using Iron Oxide Nanoparticle-Incorporated Activated Carbon Nanocomposite

Capacitive deionization (CDI) technology is currently considered a potential candidate for brackish water desalination. In this study, we designed iron oxide nanoparticle-incorporated activated carbon (AC/Fe(2)O(3)) via a facile and cost-effective hydrothermal process. The as-synthesized material was characterized using several techniques and tested as electrodes in CDI applications. We found that the distinctive properties of the AC/Fe(2)O(3) electrode, i.e., high wettability, high surface area, unique structural morphology, and high conductivity, resulted in promising CDI performance. The electrosorptive capacity of the AC/Fe(2)O(3) nanocomposite reached 6.76 mg g(−1) in the CDI process, with a high specific capacitance of 1157.5 F g(−1) at 10 mV s(−1) in a 1 M NaCl electrolyte. This study confirms the potential use of AC/Fe(2)O(3) nanocomposites as viable electrode materials in CDI and other electrochemical applications.