Technology
DESALINATION BATTERY
Our technology provides an innovative and energy-efficient solution to address challenges at the intersection of the water-energy nexus.
Cl STORAGE IN THE FORM OF BiOCl
Our technology is based on our team's patented discovery that bismuth (Bi) can serve as a practical and efficient Cl-storage electrode. Bi can store and release Cl though the reversible electrochemical conversion of Bi to BiOCl (READ MORE).
SHEET-TYPE ION STORAGE ELECTRODES
We developed a new fabrication process to prepare sheet-type Na-storage and Cl-storage electrodes, which has allowed us to achieve a stable performance for more than 5,000 cycles; equivalent to 7 years of operation with no loss in performance if two cycles are performed per day!
In our electrodes, individual particles of ion storage materials are surrounded by a rigid three-dimensional carbon and binder network, which improves the structural stability and lifetime of the electrodes (READ MORE).
ROBUST
FLEXIBLE
VARIABLE THICKNESS
DEVELOPMENT OF THE DESALINATION BATTERY
Our DESALINATION BATTERY is constructed by combining Bi as a Cl-storage electrode with a Na-storage electrode.
In the desalination battery, the energy storage and release processes are coupled with the removal and release of Na and Cl.
This new technology that can simultaneously achieve desalination and energy generation/storage is ideally positioned to have a remarkable impact on the water−energy nexus (READ MORE).
High Salt Removal Capacity
The use of Na-storage and Cl-storage electrodes that store ions in the bulk of the material enables a high capacity for salt removal.
Membrane-Free Desalination
The removal of Na and Cl via ion-specific electrode reactions enables membrane-free desalination and eliminates the processes and costs associated with the prevention of membrane fouling.
Energy Recovery
The energy consumed during the charging process is recovered during the discharging process, reducing the net energy required for desalination.
Rechargeable Battery System
Like conventional batteries (e.g. Li-ion batteries), desalination batteries store and release energy during the charging and discharging processes.
ION REMOVAL AND RECOVERY
The ion-storage electrodes can selectively and cost-effectively remove specific ions from the feedwater through simple and environmentally-friendly electrochemical reactions. Our technology provides a unique opportunity for selective ion removal from wastewater and will have a tremendous environmental impact across the United States and globally (READ MORE).
SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL ARTICLES
1. Bismuth as a new chloride-storage electrode enabling the construction of a practical high capacity desalination battery,
Do-Hwan Nam, Kyoung-Shin Choi,
Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2017, 139, 11055-11063. (READ MORE)
2. Electrochemical desalination using Bi/BiOCl electrodialysis cells,
Do-Hwan Nam, Kyoung-Shin Choi,
ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 2018, 6, 15455-15462.
3. A desalination battery combining Cu3[Fe(CN)6]2 as a Na-storage electrode and Bi as a Cl-storage electrode enabling membrane-free desalination,
Do-Hwan Nam, Margaret, A. Lumley, Kyoung-Shin Choi,
Chemistry of Materials, 2019, 31, 1460-1468. (READ MORE)
4. Tandem desalination/salination strategies enabling the use of redox couples for efficient and sustainable electrochemical desalination,
Do-Hwan Nam, Kyoung-Shin Choi,
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2019, 11, 38641-38647.
5. Elucidating structure-composition-property relationships of Ni-based Prussian blue analogues for electrochemical seawater desalination,
Margaret, A. Lumley, Do-Hwan Nam, Kyoung-Shin Choi,
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2020, 12, 36014-36025.
6. Electrochemical and photoelectrochemical approaches for the selective removal, recovery, and valorization of chloride ions,
Do-Hwan Nam, Dongho Lee, Kyoung-Shin Choi
Chemical Engineering Journal, 2021, 404, 126378. (READ MORE)
7. Electrochemical redox cells capable of desalination and energy storage: Addressing challenges of the water–energy nexus,
Do-Hwan Nam, Margaret, A. Lumley, Kyoung-Shin Choi,
ACS Energy Letters, 2021, 6, 1034-1044. (READ MORE)
8. A seawater battery with desalination capabilities enabling a dual-purpose energy storage system,
Do-Hwan Nam, Margaret, A. Lumley, Kyoung-Shin Choi,
Energy Storage Materials, 2021, 37, 556-566. (READ MORE)
PATENTS
1. Bismuth-based chloride-storage electrodes,
Kyoung-Shin Choi, Do-Hwan Nam
United States patent registration number: US 10414674 B2
The patent was granted on 2019.09.17.
Child applications:
US20190382288A1 (Publication date: 2019.12.19.)
International applications:
WO2018136130A1 (Publication date: 2018.07.26.)
AU2017394846A1 (Publication date: 2019.08.01.)
SG11201906646SA (Publication date: 2019.08.27.)
KR20190102284A (Publication date: 2019.09.03.)
IL268067D0 (Publication date: 2019.09.26.)
CN110325481A (Publication date: 2019.10.11.)
EP3571165A4 (Pubalication date: 2020.01.08.)
JP2020507885A5 (Publication date: 2020.09.10.)
2. Electrodialysis cells based on the use of redox mediators,
Kyoung-Shin Choi, Do-Hwan Nam, Dong Ki Lee
United States patent application number: US 2020/0140296 A1
The patent was issued on 2020.05.07.
International applications:
PCT/US2019/055507 (Filing date: 2019.10.10.)
3. Aqueous energy storage systems with desalination capabilities,
Kyoung-Shin Choi, Do-Hwan Nam, Margaret Lumley
United States patent application number: Not yet published
The patent was filed on 2021.02.02.
4. Tandem electrodialysis cell systems based on the use of redox couples,
Kyoung-Shin Choi, Do-Hwan Nam
United States patent application number: Not yet published
The patent was filed on 2021.02.10.