Abstract Capacitive deionization is a promising desalination technique to tackle with freshwater scarcity, due to its facile, energy-efficient and eco-friendly operation. Carbon materials are primary electrode materials in capacitive deionization devices; however, their practical applications are limited by the low salt adsorption capacity and poor cycling stability. Here, we report a pre-oxidized strategy to significantly improve the salt adsorption capacity and cycling lifespan of carbon clothes. By the simple pre-oxidation treatment, it creates abundant ultramicropores and a superhydrophilic surface, which lead to a high salt adsorption capacity (31.5 mg g−1 and 13 mg cm−3) in 0.01 M NaCl aqueous solution. Moreover, the surface of each carbon fiber is oxidized, combined with a high mechanical strength, resulting in a stable surface during the cycling process. The retention rate is 74% even after 5000 adsorption/desorption cycles in diluted seawater. This work provides a new avenue to the design of high-performance, low-cost, and durable electrodes for capacitive deionization applications.
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