The exemplary embodiments provides a desalination device comprising an electrochemical cell comprising a porous positive electrode, a porous negative electrode, and a membrane positioned between the porous positive electrode and the porous negative electrode, the electrodes comprising a network of conductive material comprising a plurality of electrode active materials dispersed throughout the conductive material, the porous negative electrode and the porous positive electrode have the same electrode active material, a power supply to supply a current to the electrochemical cell, an inlet for providing a feed stream to the electrochemical cell, a first outlet line for removing a concentrated effluent and a second outlet line for removing a desalinated effluent. Also provided is a desalination device having a plurality of electrochemical channels with alternating anion and cation selective membranes, and a porous negative and positive electrode having the same electrode active material.