One-pot synthesis of activated carbon decorated with ZnO nanoparticles for capacitive deionization application

A ZnO nanoparticles-decorated activated carbon (ACZn) nanocomposite was successfully fabricated via the hydrothermal method for efficient capacitive deionization. The as-fabricated ACZn material was characterized in terms of field emission scanning electron microscope-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analyses. These techniques revealed the formation of ZnO-decorated AC nanocomposite. The electrochemical performance of the fabricated ACZn nanocomposite as an electrode material for capacitive deionization was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), and impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests in 1 M sodium chloride. The obtained results revealed that the fabricated ACZn nanocomposite exhibited higher specific capacitance (407.17 F/g) compared to AC (207.46 F/g) at the sweep rate of 10 mV/s. A desalination performance enhancement was obtained after the incorporation with ZnO nanoparticles and the electrosorptive capacity was 3.93 mg/g. This work will provide a novel electrode for capacitive deionization. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

A ZnO nanoparticles-decorated activated carbon (ACZn) nanocomposite was successfully prepared for efficient capacitive deionization. The ACZn nanocomposite showed higher specific capacitance and improved desalination performance compared to activated carbon alone.