Recent advances of 2D materials in capacitive deionization

Capacitive deionization (CDI) is considered as one promising technique for desalination owing to its low energy consumption, high efficiency, facile operation, and non-toxicity. In a CDI device, ions are removed from solution via electro-sorption onto electrode surface and intercalation into electrode materials. The utilization of 2D materials in CDI systems has attracted significant attention because of their unique structure, high electronic conductivity, large surface area, fast ion transport kinetics, excellent ion selectivity, high ion adsorption capacity, and improved desalination efficiency. This review highlights the recent advancements of 2D materials in CDI, focusing on their morphology, CDI performance, and ion capturing mechanisms. Additionally, the challenges and future prospects of 2D materials in CDI are discussed. Overall, the integration of 2D materials in CDI shows great potential for advanced water purification technologies, providing sustainable and efficient solutions to address global water challenges and extract specific ions (e.g., Li+) from the salty lake brine.