Graphene-Based Membranes for Water Desalination: A Literature Review and Content Analysis

Abstract

Graphene-based membranes have unique nanochannels and can offer advantageous properties for the water desalination process. Although tremendous efforts have been devoted to heightening membrane performance and broadening their application, there is still lack of a systematic literature review on the development and future directions of graphene-based membranes for desalination. In this mini-review, literature published between 2011 and 2022 were analyzed by using the bibliometric method. We found that the major contributors to these publications and the highest citations were from China and the USA. Nearly 80% of author keywords in this analysis were used less than twice, showing the broad interest and great dispersion in this field. The recent advances, remaining gaps, and strategies for future research, were discussed. The development of new multifunctional nanocomposite materials, heat-driven/solar-driven seawater desalination, and large-scale industrial applications, will be important research directions in the future. This literature analysis summarized the recent development of the graphene-based membranes for desalination application, and will be useful for researchers in gaining new insights into this field.

Graphene Nanocomposite Membranes: Fabrication and Water Treatment Applications

“…Liquid phase exfoliation, also called chemical exfoliation, is another method to prepare graphene layer(s), can be seen in Figure 3 d. In the production of graphene from graphite by chemical exfoliation, the oxidation of graphite is ensured, and functional groups containing oxygen make graphite oxide which is hydrophilic and dispersible in water [ 96 , 97 , 98 ]. Chemical exfoliation of graphite is usually done in the presence of oxidants (to reduce the interaction between graphene layers).…”