Abstract
Capacitive deionization (CDI) has attracted attention as a low-energy technology for electrochemical water desalination. Given the low cost and availability of activated carbon (AC), it has been identified as a promising electrode material for CDI, but it suffers from AC low specific capacitance and hydrophobic characteristics. In this research, ceria (CeO2) nanoparticles were incorporated into AC and applied in the hydrothermal treatment process. CeO2 has been shown to play a key function in improving the electrochemical and electrosorption activity of AC, thereby resolving the capacitance and hydrophobicity limitations. A single-batch mode CDI cell was used to test desalination performance. The results showed that the best-performing AC electrode material was 5 wt.% CeO2@AC, which achieved a specific capacitance of 262 Fg−1 and electrosorption capacity of 8.9 mg g−1 under the conditions of 100 μS cm−2 NaCl solution at 1.4 V. This material is recommended as an attractive candidate for water desalination in CDI applications.