Tracking ion movement in porous carbon electrodes to boost energy storage and water desalination
Researchers from several German and British universities have developed a method to track ion movement within porous carbon electrodes using NMR spectroscopy. This advancement helps quantify how ions navigate complex pore networks, which is critical for improving energy storage and water desalination technologies.
Why it matters
Understanding microscopic ion transport is essential for optimizing the efficiency and performance of next-generation batteries and sustainable water purification systems.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add as preferred source Ion transport in hierarchically porous carbon electrodes is illustrated as coloured pathways through a network of micro- and mesopores. Credit: Dr Henry R. N. B. Enninful/Leipzig University A new study by researchers from Leipzig University, Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the University of Cambridge has revealed how ions move and exchange within complex porous carbon electrodes. These electrodes play a key role in high-performance energy storage, water desalination, gas storage and other electrochemical technologies.
To analyze this complex ion transport, the scientists used two-dimensional NMR exchange spectroscopy, a technique that makes it possible to track how ions move between different chemical environments and how quickly this exchange occurs.
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