High-Performance Electrochemical Chloride Ion Storage with Hierarchical Ternary Metal Hydroxides for Sustainable Water Purification.

Zhang, Chun-Miao; Qiu, Yun-Ze; Wu, Hao; Jiang, Ya-Qi; Wan, Zhang-Hong; Fei, Wen-Qing; Li, Qing; Li, Wen-Wei et al. · Adv Mater · 2026

basic_science · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

The increasing demand for clean water and renewable energy drives the need for efficient chloride ion removal from saline water. Here, we present a membrane-free flow-through electrochemical system using hierarchical FeCoNi-layered triple hydroxide nanosheets grown directly on porous nickel foam (FeCoNi-LTH/NF). The ternary composition uniquely enhances chloride ion adsorption by modulating electronic structure and ion binding energy. The in situ electrode synthesis approach ensures direct, binder-free contact, enhancing charge transfer and ion storage. Consequently, the FeCoNi-LTH/NF electrode achieves outstanding chloride removal capacity (180.07 mg g<sup>-1</sup>), rapid adsorption rates, high energy efficiency, and exceptional stability (100% capacity retention after 1000 cycles). This work demonstrates the potential of a hierarchical triple hydroxide electrode as a scalable, cost-effective, and energy-efficient solution for sustainable water purification.