Electrochemical adsorption of water pollutants based on carbon materials: Materials, mechanisms, and applications

  • Xiaoling Wu

    School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Guangdong University of Education, Guangzhou 510800, China
  • Manni Liang

    School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Guangdong University of Education, Guangzhou 510800, China
  • Ruiqing Su

    School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Guangdong University of Education, Guangzhou 510800, China
  • Shui He

    School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Guangdong University of Education, Guangzhou 510800, China
  • Jieyi Yang

    School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Guangdong University of Education, Guangzhou 510800, China
  • Xingyuan Gao orcid

    School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Guangdong University of Education, Guangzhou 510800, China
Article ID: 4107
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59400/mtr4107
Keywords: carbon materials, electrochemical adsorption, water pollution control, pollutant removal, interfacial mechanisms, functionalization modification

Abstract

Carbon-based electrochemical adsorption technology has become an increasingly important method in the field of advanced water pollution treatment, and it is expected to provide critical technical support for water environmental restoration and drinking water safety. Traditional water treatment technologies have obvious limitations, such as poor selectivity, high energy consumption, difficulty in material regeneration, and the risk of secondary pollution. In this context, it is crucial to develop new water treatment technologies that are efficient, stable, low-consumption, and environmentally friendly. Carbon-based electrochemical adsorption technology makes full use of the superior electrical conductivity, high specific surface area, tunable surface chemistry, and relatively low cost of carbon materials, showing great potential in water pollution control. This paper systematically reviews carbon-based electrochemical adsorption technology, summarizes key adsorption materials, removal mechanisms for various pollutants, optimization strategies related to system configuration and operating parameters, and the latest application developments in different water treatment fields. The article clearly distinguishes the roles of non-Faradaic (capacitive) processes based on double-layer charging and Faradaic processes involving electron transfer in pollutant enrichment and transformation, constructing a clear mechanistic framework. Furthermore, the paper critically analyzes the main challenges faced by this technology, including the synergistic optimization of material performance, in-depth analysis of interfacial mechanisms, the complexity of actual water bodies, system-scale application, and long-term operational stability, and proposes future research directions to promote its engineering and large-scale application.

Published
2026-05-29
How to Cite
Wu, X., Liang, M., Su, R., He, S., Yang, J., & Gao, X. (2026). Electrochemical adsorption of water pollutants based on carbon materials: Materials, mechanisms, and applications. Materials Technology Reports, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.59400/mtr4107
Issue
Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026)
Section
Review

Copyright (c) 2026 Xiaoling Wu, Manni Liang, Ruiqing Su, Shui He, Jieyi Yang, Xingyuan Gao

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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