Preparation and characteristics of fluorinated carbon nanotube applied capacitive desalination electrode with low energy consumption

Abstract

The surface of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was modified by fluorination and applied to conductive materials to improve the energy efficiency of a capacitive desalination (CDI) electrode. CNTs were fluorinated at room temperature with a mixed gas of fluorine and nitrogen, and activated carbon based CDI electrodes were then prepared by adding 0-0.5 wt% of untreated CNTs or fluorinated CNTs with respect to the activated carbon. Fluorinated CNTs showed improved dispersibility in the electrode and also slurry as compared to untreated CNTs, which was confirmed by the zeta potential and scanning electron microscopy. Fluorinated CNTs added electrodes showed higher desalination efficiency but lower energy consumption than those of using untreated CNTs added electrodes. This was attributed to the decrease in the resistance of CDI electrodes due to the improved dispersibility of CNTs by fluorination.