Functionalization of graphene holes for deionization

A method for deionization of a solution, said method comprising the steps of:

• functionalizing first plural apertures of a first graphene sheet to repel first ions in the solution from transit through the functionalized first plural apertures, the non-transiting first ions also influencing second ions in the solution to not transit through the functionalized first plural apertures;
• functionalizing second plural apertures of a second graphene sheet to repel second ions in the solution from transit through the functionalized second plural apertures, the non-transiting second ions also influencing first ions in the solution to not transit through the functionalized second plural apertures;
• positioning the first graphene sheet downstream of a solution flow path input and positioning the second graphene sheet between the first graphene sheet and a solution flow path output;
• and
• causing solution to enter the solution flow path input, through said first graphene sheet, then through said second graphene sheet, thereby resulting in a deionized solution at the solution flow path output.

A deionizer, comprising:

• a graphene sheet with plural apertures functionalized to repel first ions in a solution from transit through the plural apertures, the non-transiting first ions influencing second ions in the solution to not transit through the functionalized plural apertures;
• a solution flow path with an input and an output, wherein the graphene sheet is positioned between the solution flow path input and the solution flow path output;
• and
• a source of solution laden with ions;
• wherein the solution laden with ions is introduced into the solution flow path input, passes through the graphene sheet, thereby resulting in a first ion solution containing the first ions and the second ions on a solution flow path input side of the graphene sheet and a deionized solution on a solution flow path output side of the graphene sheet.

A solution deionizer, comprising:

• a first graphene sheet with first plural apertures functionalized to repel first ions from transiting through the functionalized first plural apertures, the non-transiting first ions influencing second ions in the solution to not transit through the functionalized first plural apertures;
• a second graphene sheet with second plural apertures functionalized to repel the second ions in the solution from transiting through the functionalized second plural apertures, the non-transiting second ions influencing the first ions in the solution to not transit through the functionalized second plural apertures;
• a solution flow path with an input and an output, wherein the first graphene sheet is downstream from the solution flow path input and the second graphene sheet is between the first graphene sheet and the solution flow path output;
• and
• a source of solution laden with ions;
• wherein the solution laden with ions is introduced into the solution flow path input, passes through the first graphene sheet, then passes through the second graphene sheet, thereby resulting in deionized solution at the solution flow path output.