Redox transformation of bismuth active units encapsulated on carbon nanorods for efficient fluoride Electrosorption: Synergistic roles of Faradaic effect and EDL capacitance

Remediation of fluoride in groundwater through electrosorption to cope with its high charge density and the smallest anion radius remains a promising strategy. Composite carbon materials obtained by calcining metal–organic frameworks contribute to the performance of conventional fluoride electrosorption systems. This study provides a redox-active electrode (MBiC@tE) that incorporates the Faradaic ion trapping effect for fluoride removal. Under potential control, MBiC@tE reversibly traps/releases fluoride anions from the aqueous solution through the combined roles of Faradaic pseudocapacitance and electrical double layer capacitance, with an electrosorption capacity of approximately 37.9 mgF- gelectrode-1. The target contaminant anions are directly involved in the Faradaic reaction on the bismuth sites, with the formation of Bi-F bond excited by an electric field, thus resulting in the removal of fluoride as a consequence of the generation of insoluble substance (BiF3). Furthermore, as expected (Bi0 + 3F- ⇌ BiF3 + 3e-), the working electrode exhibits good reversibility and maintains a high fluoride removal capacity even after multiple cycles. This study presents a comprehensive elucidation on the synergistic roles of Faradaic effect and electrical double layer capacitance induced by the electric field, and offers profound insights into the phase transition of bismuth and its affinity for fluoride during the electrosorption.