Enhanced capacitive deionization performance of graphene by nitrogen doping.

Nitrogen-doped graphene (NG) was fabricated via a simple thermal treatment of graphene oxide in an ammonia atmosphere. The morphology, structure and electrochemical performance of NG were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The electrosorption performance of NG in NaCl solution was studied and compared with pristine graphene (PG). The results show that due to its high specific surface area, increased specific capacitance and low charge transfer resistance, NG exhibits high electrosorption capacity of 4.81 mg g(-1) when the initial solution conductivity is 100 μS cm(-1), which are much higher than those of PG (3.85 mg g(-1)).