Department of Chemistry - PhD Student Seminar - Advancing Clean Water with Capacitive Deionization: Principles and Prospects

Student: Mr. Nitish KUMAR

Department: Department of Chemistry, HKUST

Supervisor: Prof. Jonathan Eugene HALPERT

Abstract

Capacitive deionization is a promising, low-environmental-impact desalination technology that has gained significant momentum in recent years. Improvements in CDI involve optimizing carbon materials through structural refinement, introducing surface functional groups, heteroatom doping of nanocarbon materials, and modifying carbon materials with metal oxides. Furthermore, a remarkable breakthrough has emerged in the form of Faradaic materials, which has driven a transformative increase in the desalination capacity of CDI. The evolution of CDI cell architectures from static electrodes to flow electrodes has enabled continuous production. These innovations in electrode materials and cell architectures have not only improved energy efficiency and enabled energy recovery but have also expanded the salinity range that CDI can effectively address. Future research should focus on understanding ion-selective mechanisms, enhancing electrode stability, and conducting comprehensive economic and environmental assessments. Addressing these areas will be crucial for advancing CDI technology, improving its scalability, and enhancing its practical application.