Metal-air desalination battery: Concurrent energy generation and water desalination

Abstract

Abstract The concept of a self-powered water desalination device with the capability of simultaneous electricity generation is introduced. The as-fabricated metal-air desalination battery takes the advantage of integration of ion selective membranes with an aluminum-air battery in a three-chamber cell. The maximum power density of 2.83\u202fW\u202fm−2 at 6.58 A.m−2 current density and 0.43\u202fV output voltage is obtained using natural saltwater as the electrolyte. The as-fabricated device decreases the salinity of Caspian saltwater by 37.8% with 10\u202fmW\u202fh energy generation in 14-h operation. The obtained results are promising to present considerable room for improvement of the as-fabricated device.