Durable leeft-metal configuration for water disinfection

A water disinfection device, comprising:

• a tubular outer electrode comprising copper, silver, or zinc and defining an internal flow channel;
• a core-shell center electrode positioned within the internal flow channel and extending along a longitudinal axis of the tubular outer electrode, the core-shell center electrode comprising a wire core and a shell electrodeposited onto the wire core;
• a fluid inlet configured to introduce water into the internal flow channel;
• a fluid outlet configured to discharge treated water from the internal flow channel;
• and
• an electrical circuit configured to selectively apply a first voltage having a first polarity to cause electrodeposition of copper from the tubular outer electrode onto the wire core and a second voltage having a second polarity opposite the first polarity to cause ionization of metal from the shell.

A method of disinfecting water, comprising:

• providing a water disinfection system comprising a cylindrical outer electrode, a center electrode positioned within the cylindrical outer electrode and comprising an inner wire and an outer shell, and a voltage source;
• applying a first voltage having a first polarity across the cylindrical outer electrode and the center electrode to electrodeposit metal from the cylindrical outer electrode onto the outer shell;
• reversing polarity and applying a second voltage having a second polarity opposite the first polarity across the cylindrical outer electrode and the center electrode to ionize metal from the outer shell;
• and
• flowing water through the water disinfection system during application of the second voltage to disinfect the water with the ionized metal.