Graphene energy storage for seawater desalination

Can graphene oxide be used in seawater desalination?

The graphene oxide (GO) membrane has recently emerged as a promising material for nanofiltration. However, its application in seawater desalination is limited because of the comparatively low ion rejection performance. The ionisation of the functional groups such as carboxylic acid results in a negative charge on the GO sheet.

Is graphene a good nanomaterial for water desalination and purification?

The porous structure and wetting characteristics of graphene make it an excellent and promising nanomaterial for water desalination (WD) and purification. The present work presents a systematic review and performs a meta-analysis on the application of graphene-based nanomaterial for WD.

Can a graphene membrane desalinate water?

In 2013, Lockheed Martin claimed to have developed a graphene-based membrane capable of desalinating water “at a fraction of the cost of industry-standard RO systems”.The potential commercial membrane was named perforene, wherein the active layer’s thickness is at the atomic level.

Can graphene membranes evaporate seawater into freshwater?

Herein, we report a floating graphene membrane for evaporating seawater into freshwater exclusively using solar energy, with high efficiency and large scalability. Polyimide films can be fully converted to graphene membranes using one-step laser scribing, without involving chemicals or generating wastes.

Will graphene-based membranes be able to be used in water treatment plants?

Another factor that would undoubtedly delay the transition of graphene-based membranes (including GO membranes) from the laboratory to the market is that most water treatment plants have been designed for membranes exhibiting lower permeability. Thus, newer plants would have to be constructed for highly permeable membranes.

How is water permeability governed in graphene oxide membrane?

The water permeability in GO membrane is governed either via the oxidized zones that serve as spacers to administer sufficient interlayer distance to accept water molecules, or via pure graphitic zones by enabling practically unhindered flow 5. Fig. 1: Graphene oxide membrane: from fabrication to separation properties.