title: Effects of activated carbon characteristics on the electrosorption capacity of titanium dioxide/activated carbon composite electrode materials prepared by a microwave-assisted ionothermal synthesis method.
abstract: Titanium dioxide (TiO2)/ activated carbon (AC) composite materials, as capacitive deionization electrodes, were prepared by a two-step microwave-assisted ionothermal synthesis method. The electrosorption capacity of the composite electrodes was studied and the effects of AC characteristics were explored. These effects were investigated by multiple analytical techniques, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetry analysis and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, etc. The experimental results indicated that the electrosorption capacity of the TiO2/AC composite electrode is dependent on the characteristics of AC including the pore structure and the surface property. An enhancement in electrosorption capacity was observed for the TiO2/AC composite electrode prepared from the AC with higher mesopore content and less hydrophilic surface. This enhancement is due to the deposition of anatase TiO2 with suitable amount of Ti-OH. On the other hand, a decline in electrosorption capacity was observed for the TiO2/AC composite electrode prepared from the AC with higher micropore content and highly hydrophilic surface. High content of hydrogen bond complex formed between the functional group on hydrophilic surface with H2O, which will slow down the TiO2 precursor-H2O reaction. In such situation, the effect of TiO2 becomes unfavorable as the loading amount of TiO2 is less and the micropore can also be blocked.
authors.affiliation: Material and Chemical Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Bldg. 17, 321 Sec. 2, Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu 30011, Taiwan; Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Rm. 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Po-I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Material and Chemical Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Bldg. 17, 321 Sec. 2, Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu 30011, Taiwan. Electronic address: loischung@itri.org.tw.
authors.forename: Li-Ching
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Material and Chemical Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Bldg. 17, 321 Sec. 2, Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu 30011, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.affiliation: Material and Chemical Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Bldg. 17, 321 Sec. 2, Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu 30011, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Material and Chemical Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Bldg. 17, 321 Sec. 2, Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu 30011, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Teh-Ming
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Material and Chemical Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Bldg. 17, 321 Sec. 2, Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu 30011, Taiwan. Electronic address: vincenthorng@itri.org.tw.
authors.forename: Ren-Yang
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Horng
authors.affiliation: Material and Chemical Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Bldg. 17, 321 Sec. 2, Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu 30011, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Min-Chao
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Rm. 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan. Electronic address: ccma@che.nthu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Chen-Chi M
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ma
keywords: Activated carbon; Anatase titanium dioxide; Capacitive deionization; Electrosorption capacity; Ionothermal synthesis; Microwave