Voltage-controlled anion exchange membrane enabling selective ion affinities for water desalination and device containing the same

A desalination device, comprising:

• a container configured to contain a saline water solution having a concentration of dissolved salts in the form of anions and cations;
• a first electrode and a second electrode arranged in a first compartment and a second compartment, respectively, of the container, the first and second electrodes configured to be arranged in fluid communication with the saline water solution;
• an anion exchange membrane (AEM) separating the first and second compartments, the AEM having a porous membrane structure and a plurality of negatively-charged oxygen functional groups coupled to the porous membrane structure;
• and
• a power source configured to selectively apply a voltage to one of the first and second electrodes, the AEM having a selective permeability when the voltage is applied such that the cations have a first diffusion rate d1 therethrough and the anions have a second diffusion rate d2 therethrough where 0≤d1<d2, wherein:
• the power source is configured to apply a membrane voltage to the AEM via an external circuit, the AEM configured to decrease the first diffusion rate d1 of the cations through the AEM and increase the second diffusion rate d2 of the anions through the AEM in response to the applied voltage;
• and
• there is no cation exchange membrane separating the first and second compartments.