Recent advances on capacitive deionization for defluorination: From electrode materials to engineering application

The combined need for advanced treatment of fluoridated water and low-energy technologies has inspired researchers to develop more efficient and green methods of fluoride removal. Capacitive deionization (CDI), a novel water treatment technology, has garnered significant attention in the defluorination field due to its exceptional ion selectivity. Recent decades, CDI has achieved remarkable advancements in electrode materials, F− storage mechanisms, and the potential for engineering applications in the realm of F− removal. However, there has been a lack of reviews that highlight design strategies for electrode materials in terms of fluoride ion properties in water and provide insights into key factors for designing CDI structures with excellent performance and promise for scale applications. Herein, starting from the background of fluorine pollution in surface water, and the selective removal of fluorine heavily relies on the crucial role played by electrode materials. Accordingly, all kinds of defluorinated electrode materials are reviewed. Secondly, the defluorination mechanism is summarized especially the distinctions among these processes. Additionally, the challenges existing in the promotion of CDI defluorination to large-scale applications are firstly analyzed in depth. Finally, future research opportunities and prospects by CDI for defluorination are proposed. In summary, CDI shows great potential for removing fluoride ions from water, offering a fresh approach to sustainable water resource management and environmental protection.