Transport of ions in mesoporous carbon electrodes during capacitive deionization of high-salinity solutions

K. Sharma, Y. H. Kim, J. Gabitto, R. T. Mayes, S. Yiacoumi, H. Z. Bilheux, L. M.H. Walker, S. Dai, C. Tsouris

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

Desalination of high-salinity solutions has been studied using a novel experimental technique and a theoretical model. Neutron imaging has been employed to visualize lithium ions in mesoporous carbon materials, which are used as electrodes in capacitive deionization (CDI) for water desalination. Experiments were conducted with a flow-through CDI cell designed for neutron imaging and with lithium-6 chloride (6LiCl) as the electrolyte. Sequences of neutron images have been obtained at a relatively high concentration of 6LiCl solution to provide information on the transport of ions within the electrodes. A new model that computes the individual ionic concentration profiles inside mesoporous carbon electrodes has been used to simulate the CDI process. Modifications have also been introduced into the simulation model to calculate results at high electrolyte concentrations. Experimental data and simulation results provide insight into why CDI is not effective for desalination of high ionic-strength solutions. The combination of experimental information, obtained through neutron imaging, with the theoretical model will help in the design of CDI devices, which can improve the process for high ionic-strength solutions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1038-1047
Number of pages10
JournalLangmuir
Volume31
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 27 2015

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Science FoundationCBET-0651683
U.S. Department of Energy

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