The progress and prospect of the solar-driven photoelectrochemical desalination. (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liang, Mengjun; Karthick, Ramalingam; Wei, Qiang; Dai, Jinhong; Jiang, Zhuosheng; Chen, Xuncai; Oo, Than Zaw; Aung, Su Htike; Chen, Fuming
• Is Part Of: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews. Volume 155(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: Solar-driven desalination -- Renewable energy -- Continuous -- Energy consumption; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2021.111864
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-0321

Abstract

Abstract: Typical desalination techniques, such as reverse osmosis, distillation, capacitive deionization, and battery desalination, require lots of electrical or thermal energy consumption. As a new emerging desalination technique, the solar-driven photoelectrochemical desalination (SD-PED) technology by using sustainable solar energy to remove salt ions without any external bias has been developed and caused much attention. The SD-PED technique with dual functions of desalination and photoelectric conversion driven by sunlight has demonstrated that a high initial photocurrent up to 9.5 mA can be obtained in the existing work with 99.95% salt removal rate. However, some limitations are remained such as the fast decline of photocurrent, difficulty in the seawater desalination, the long-term stability of system etc. To better understand this new desalination technique, herein, we comprehensively review and discuss the status of SD-PED system for the first time, including the device configuration, influencing factors and the active involved materials of solar absorbers and redox electrolyte species. Further, the strategies to improve the performance of long-term stability desalination are summarized, such as the configuration connection in series or parallel, the combination of photoanode and photocathode, the photosensitive material with wide solar absorption. At last, the challenge and prospect are further guided for the future development of SD-PED technology, which are expected to realize the commercialization. Graphical abstract: A new type of electricity-free solar-driven electrochemical desalination technique was proposed very recently which could achieve continuous desalination by circulating the redox flow electrolyte. This review comprehensively describes the recent development of SD-PED technique to determine its advantages and disadvantages with guiding further technology development. Followed by discussion the mechanism, device configuration, solar absorber materials, redox electrolyte species and influencing factors of SD-PED system. Finally, state the challenges, discussions for future work, conclusions and perspectives in the last section. The SD-PED technique is a promising solution to the worldwide energy and water shortage crisis. Image 1 Highlights: The SD-PED technology was reviewed for the first time. Development and desalting mechanisms of SD-PED technology was summarized. The configurations, materials and performance influence factors were analyzed. The challenges & perspectives are guided for the future development of SD-PED.