Enhanced desalination performance of capacitive deionization using ZIF-8/Graphene nanocomposite electrode

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is greatly recommended as a desalination process for its eco-friendly and low energy consuming technique in removing salt ions (NaCl) from salty water. This study reports a Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8/Graphene (ZIF-8/G) nanocomposite modified electrode performance in CDI technology. Based on its promising features, like large surface area and good electric conductivity, graphene is an adequate electrode. Interestingly, ZIF-8 is homogeneously well intergrown on the surface of graphene. Hence, electrochemical performance such as electrical conductivity and cyclic voltammetry in CDI unit were examined, and characteristics like the morphology, identification and determining the structure of the prepared materials were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). As an adsorbent, the prepared ZIF-8/G nanocomposite exhibits the best adsorption capacity about 141.6037 F/g higher than each individually and great electrical conductivity about 672 μs/cm. The high adsorption specific capacity and good reusability of the ZIF-8/G nanocomposite suggests that it can be applied as novel adsorbents showing attractive potential for the CDI technique.