Capacitive-faradaic and pseudocapacitive-faradaic fuel cells

A method for selective recovery of dissolved ions from an aqueous medium, comprising:

• (a) providing a first chamber comprising the aqueous medium and a plurality of conductive porous particles, wherein said plurality of conductive porous particles is in conductive contact with a catalyst, said catalyst being capable of catalyzing an oxidation reaction upon exposure to a reductant in the aqueous medium and/or a reduction reaction upon exposure to an oxidant in the aqueous medium;
• (b) contacting the aqueous medium comprising the dissolved ions with said plurality of conductive porous particles;
• (c) if the dissolved ions are cations, introducing a reductant into the aqueous medium in said first chamber, thereby oxidizing said reductant, to thereby adsorb the dissolved ions to afford adsorbed ions on said plurality of conductive porous particles;
• or
• if the dissolved ions are anions, introducing an oxidant into the aqueous medium in said first chamber, thereby reducing said oxidant, to thereby adsorb the dissolved ions to afford adsorbed ions on said plurality of conductive porous particles;
• (d) subsequent to (c), contacting said plurality of conductive porous particles with a regeneration solution, optionally in a second chamber;
• (e) if the dissolved ions comprises at least one cation, introducing an oxidant into said regeneration solution, thereby reducing said oxidant, and thereby releasing said adsorbed ions into said regeneration solution as dissolved cations;
• or
• if the dissolved ions comprises at least one anion, introducing a reductant into said regeneration solution, thereby oxidizing said reductant, and thereby releasing said adsorbed ions into said regeneration solution as dissolved anions;
• and
• (f) recovering said regeneration solution enriched in the dissolved ions,
• wherein said dissolved ions are recovered through repeated cycles comprising (c) and (e).