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Toward anti-fouling capacitive deionization by using visible-light reduced TiO2/graphene nanocomposites

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 September 2015

Wei Zhang*
Affiliation:
Centre for Water Management and Reuse, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia
Baoping Jia
Affiliation:
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu 213164, China
*
Address all correspondence to Wei Zhang atWei.Zhang@unisa.edu.au
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Abstract

In this work, we showcased a visible-light-assisted reduction of graphene oxide (GO) using N-doped TiO2 photocatalysts. Bench scale capacitive deionization (CDI) experiments determine the optimum working voltage for TiO2–reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanocomposites as CDI electrodes at 1.8 V. Furthermore, the coupled TiO2 nanoparticles within the as-prepared composite also exhibited photocatalytic ability by removing the humic acid model pollutant. This property is expected to be beneficial as it could relieve the degree of fouling on the electrosorptive surface caused by dissolved organic compounds. In the end, we have demonstrated their potential as a viable desalination water treatment technology in a pilot scale CDI unit.

Type
Research Letters
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2015 

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