TiO2-embedded 3D porous activated carbon from waste-sugarcane-bagasse: a revolutionary electrode material for unmatched desalination performance in capacitive deionization

In recent years, the demand for efficient and sustainable desalination technologies has driven research into advanced electrode materials. This study explores the incorporation of TiO2 into waste-sugarcane-bagasse-derived 3D porous activated carbon during the gelation process with NaOH and urea, followed by calcination and activation. The resulting composite material demonstrated a significant increase in desalination capability, achieving a high salt adsorption capacity of 49.63 mg g(-1) at 1.6 V. This improvement is attributed to the enhanced specific capacitance and increased BET surface area, indicating a strong synergy between TiO2 and the activated carbon matrix. Furthermore, the AC/1.0TiO(2) electrode exhibited excellent long-term stability, maintaining excellent performance over 90 adsorption-desorption cycles. These findings suggest that TiO2-doped waste-sugarcane-bagasse-derived 3D porous activated carbon is a promising, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective electrode material for CDI applications. This approach not only leverages agricultural waste but also opens new perspectives for the development of more efficient and durable water purification systems.