Table 1. Separation performance of rGO membranes in water desalination.

	Water flux (L cm−2 day−1 MPa−1)			Salt rejection (%)
Initial oxygen concentration	1:2*	1:1*	2:1*	1:2*	1:1*	2:1*
T=1,500 K
17%	0.0	0.0	0.0	100	100	100
25%	0.0	0.0	0.0	100	100	100
33%	0.0	2.6	2.0	100	99	100
T=2,000 K
17%	0.0	0.0	0.0	100	100	100
25%	0.0	0.0	0.1	100	100	100
33%	2.1	15.3	(L)	100	99	(L)
T=2,500 K
17%	0.0	0.0	0.0	100	100	100
25%	0.0	0.0	15.4	100	100	93
33%	27.4	(L)	(L)	94	(L)	(L)
T=3,000 K
17%	0.0	0.0	0.0	100	100	100
25%	0.1	3.0	(L)	100	100	(L)
33%	(L)	(L)	(L)	(L)	(L)	(L)

rGO, reduced graphene oxide.

*Initial epoxy/hydroxyl ratio.

Averaged water flux and salt rejection obtained from MD simulations are summarized. The salt rejection is defined as the percentage of salt ions staying in the retentate or feed side of the desalination process after a simulation time of ∼1 ns. Those combinations of synthesis parameters that result in promising desalination performance are highlighted in bold. The letter ‘(L)' indicates that nanopores in rGO membranes are too large and both the water molecules and salt ions can freely pass through the rGO membrane (that is, unable to achieve an effective reverse osmosis process).