Abstract: A method is disclosed for deionizing water and purging ions. A first graphene sheet and a second graphene sheet are positioned between a water flow path input and output. A first electrical charge is applied to the first graphene sheet and a second electrical charge to the second graphene sheet, which causes the first graphene sheet to repel ions of the first electrical charge from transiting apertures in the first graphene sheet, influences ions of the second electrical charge from transiting the apertures in the first graphene sheet, and causes the second graphene sheet to repel ions of the second electrical charge from transiting the second apertures. Water is introduced into the water flow path input, through the first graphene sheet, and then through the second graphene sheet, resulting in deionized water at the output. A sensor monitors the capacitance of the graphene sheets to determine when purging is needed.

Abstract: A method for deionization of a solution, the method comprising functionalizing plural apertures of a graphene sheet to repel first ions in the solution from transiting through the functionalized plural apertures. The non-transiting first ions influence second ions in the solution to not transit through the functionalized plural apertures. The graphene sheet is positioned between a solution flow path input and a solution flow path output. Solution enters the solution flow path input and through the functionalized plural apertures of the graphene sheet, resulting in a deionized solution on the solution flow path output side of the graphene sheet and a second solution containing the first ions and second ions on the solution flow path input side of the graphene sheet.