Template-free fabrication strategies for 3D nanoporous Graphene in desalination applications

Abstract

For the first time, a novel approach has been developed to fabricate 3D nanoporous Graphene for desalination application. The new approach consists of reducing Graphene Oxide in the presence of saccharose using hydrothermal and microwave combustion routes. The synthesized 3D nanoporous Graphene provides a higher specific surface area than other 3D Graphene synthesized in different ways reported in literatures. In desalination applications, the salt rejection capacity is considerably higher than activated carbon or different carbon-based materials.The filtered solution conductivity has two orders lower than the feeding solution and stays in the acceptable drinking water range. This excellent result can be explained by the remaining oxygen functional groups, the defects formed during the reduction process, the large specific surface area, and the nanopore of the obtained 3D nanoporous Graphene.

Keywords

• 3D nanoporous Graphene
• Saccharose
• Desalination
• Reduction