Two-Dimensional Molybdenum Carbide (MXene) with Divacancy Ordering for Brackish and Seawater Desalination via Cation and Anion Intercalation

Abstract

Ion intercalation materials are emerging as a highly attractive class of electrodes for efficient energy water desalination. Most materials and concepts so far have focused on the removal of cations (especially sodium). Anion intercalation, however, remains poorly investigated in water desalination. We present a study on the capability of Mo1.33C-MXene for removing cations and anions and demonstrate the desalination performance in brackish water and seawater concentrations. Mo1.33C-MXene was prepared via acid treatment of the transition metal carbide MAX phase (Mo2/3Sc1/3)2AlC. Binder-free electrodes were obtained by entangling MXene with carbon nanotubes and tested without the use of any ion exchange membrane at low (5 mM NaCl) and high (600 mM NaCl) salt concentrations. Such electrodes showed a promising desalination performance of 15 mg/g in 600 mM NaCl with high charge efficiency up to 95%. By employing chemical online monitoring of the effluent stream, we separated the cation and anion intercalation capacity of the electrode material.