활성탄에 $TiO_2$를 졸-겔 방법으로 코팅하여 탄소복합전극을 제조하였고 축전식 이온제거(Capacitive deionization : CDI) 과정에서 나타난 제염효과에 대하여 고찰하였다. 본 연구에서 $TiO_2$는 전극의 젖음성을 향상시켜 전극과 전해질의 접촉 저항을 감소시키고, 전기이중층 흡착량을 증가시킬 수 있으므로 CDI전극재로 활성탄에 코팅하였다. TEM, XRD, XPS로 활성탄에 $TiO_2$가 코팅되었는지 확인하였다. 순환전류전압법과 impedance측정 결과 탄소복합전극이 탄소전극보다 전기이중층 용량이 증가하였으며, 전극의 확산저항이 줄어든 것을 확인하였다. 또한 이온제거율을 확인하기 위한 충전-방전 및 이온전도도 평가 결과 전해질 NaCl $1000;{mu}S/cm$에서 탄소복합전극이 탄소전극보다 39% 더 많은 이온을 제거하는 것을 확인하였다. 본 연구 결과 CDI용 전극재료 $TiO_2$가 코팅된 탄소복합전극이 탄소전극보다 효과적인 제염효과를 보임을 확인하였다.
Desalination effects of capacitive deionization (CDI) process was studied using $TiO_2$/activated carbon electrode. In order to enhance the wettability of electrode and decrease a electrode resistance, $TiO_2$ was coated on activated carbon. By means of $TiO_2$ coating on activated carbon, electric double layer to adsorption content in CDI process was increased. It was identified from TEM, XRD, and XPS that the activated carbon based on $TiO_2$ composite was fabricated successfully by means of sol-gel method. As a results of cyclic voltammetry and impedance, it was identified that $TiO_2$/activated carbon electrode has more electric double later capacitance and less diffusion resistance than activated carbon. Also charge-discharge and ion conductivity profiles showed that the ion removal ratios of $TiO_2$/activated carbon electrode in NaCl electrolyte of $1000;{mu}S/cm$ more increased about 39% than that of activated carbon. In conclusion it was possible to identify that the carbon electrode coated $TiO_2$ as electrode material was more effective than raw carbon electrode.
