New paper published on solvation-effects during carbon nanopore electrosorption in Carbon

New paper on solvation effects inside carbon nanopores during electrosorption published in Carbon.

Our British-German study explores the solvation effects on ion adsorption and electrosorption within carbon micropores, employing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to gain insights. Our data investigate how ionophilicity and ionophobicity – the tendency of ions to be uptaken by uncharged nanopores – affect the partitioning behavior of ions. The nanopore diameter significantly influences ion adsorption, with narrower pores creating higher barriers for ion entry. The research also reveals that ion-specific solvation effects impact on the charge storage mechanism, with ionophilic systems favoring counter-ion adsorption, while ionophobic systems tend toward co-ion ejection under applied voltage.

In a broader context, this work contributes to the ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency of energy storage technologies, especially fast charge/discharge capable supercapacitors. By unraveling the interactions between ions and carbon nanopores, the research provides insights that could inform the development of more effective materials for supercapacitors and capacitive deionization, key components in sustainable energy systems.

Acknowledgments: Ryan J. Bragg (Lancaster University), Kieran Griffiths (Lancaster University), Imgon Hwang (The University of Manchester), Mantas Leketas (The University of Manchester), Kacper Polus (The University of Manchester), Robert Dryfe (The University of Manchester), and of course John M. Griffin (Lancaster University).#