Influence of Chemical, Electrochemical Exfoliation, Hydrophilic, and Hydrophobic Binder on the Sorption Capacity of Graphene in Capacitive Deionization
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 148, Issue 7
Abstract
Graphene is expected to play a significant role as a capacitive deionization (CDI) electrode due to its exceptional characteristics. However, difficulties in achieving high specific surface area (SSA) reduces the sorption capacity and limits its usage in CDI. Effort taken toward improving the SSA of graphene by adding composites and through surface modification resulted in significant SSA with lower sorption capacity. Thus, the present study investigated the effect of the synthesis method and materials used to prepare electrode slurry (binder material) on SSA and specific capacitance. Graphene was synthesized employing Hummers, modified Hummers, and electrochemical exfoliation, and its quality was characterized based on X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and ultraviolet spectra analysis. The influence of binder type on specific capacitance was assessed by fabricating the electrode with commonly used two hydrophobic and two hydrophilic binders. Sorption analysis was also carried out to study the effect of SSA and specific capacitance of graphene with selected binders. The results revealed that electrochemically exfoliated graphene yield SSA of with a sorption capacity 64% and 52% greater than graphene synthesized using the Hummers and modified Hummers methods, respectively. Usage of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) binder resulted in a specific capacitance of and a sorption capacity of . Thus, graphene’s increased sorption capacity implies that the suitable method of synthesis and fabrication of electrodes with a suitable binder offers adequate SSA and specific capacitance by suppressing pseudocapacitance.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
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Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 148 • Issue 7 • July 2022
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© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Jul 2, 2021
Accepted: Jan 19, 2022
Published online: Apr 29, 2022
Published in print: Jul 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Sep 29, 2022
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