On the use of carbon black loaded nitrogen-doped carbon aerogel for the electrosorption of sodium chloride from saline water

Highly micro-mesoporous carbon electrodes have been synthesized by the polycondensation of resorcinol-formaldehyde-melamine mixtures in the presence of a carbon conductive additive. The materials showed high surface functionalization (N- and O- groups) provided by the precursors. Despite the low amount used, the conductive additive had a marked effect on the porosity of the aerogels; for a given series, the carbon black loaded materials showed similar micropore volumes and a more developed mesoporosity than the pristine aerogels. Furthermore, the activation treatment under CO2 atmosphere led to an increase in the surface area along with a widening of the mesoporosity. The synthesized aerogels were explored as electrodes for the electro-assisted removal of sodium chloride from saline water. A desalting capacity of 7.3 mg/g was obtained for monolith electrodes of sample MRF-Act/CB, along with an excellent chemical stability upon charge and discharge at high polarization voltages. Such good electrochemical performance is due to the combination of an adequate pore network and surface functionalization with an enhanced electrical conductivity achieved upon the incorporation of the carbon black additive during the polycondensation of the aerogel precursors.