Fabrication of core–shell particles for a fluidized bed electrode in seawater desalination

Active carbon particles have been coated with cation-exchanged polymer for the fabrication of core–shell particles, to be used as a fluidized bed electrode in seawater desalination. To adequately utilize the features of the core–shell particles, the polymer should be uniformly coated on the surface of independent active carbon particles. To do that, the active carbon particles prior to the polymer coating were modified with an acid for individual separation without agglomeration between particles, producing a more effective coating of polymer on the carbon particles. The modified carbon particles were well dispersed in an aqueous solution with cation-exchanged polymer by the hydrophilic groups generated on the carbon chain, resulting in the homogeneous coating of polymer on the surface of individual carbon particles. This means that the core–shell particles prepared with heterogeneous materials could be applicable to a fluidized bed electrode in seawater desalination.