Work

Massively Enhanced Charge Selectivity, Ion Transport, and Osmotic Energy Conversion by Antiswelling Nanoconfined Hydrogels

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Developing a nanofluidic membrane with simultaneously enhanced ion selectivity and permeability for high-performance osmotic energy conversion has largely been unexplored. Here, we tackle this issue by the confinement of highly space-charged hydrogels within an orderedly aligned nanochannel array membrane. The nanoconfinement effect endows the hydrogel-based membrane with excellent antiswelling property. Furthermore, experimental and simulation results demonstrate that such a nanoconfined hydrogel membrane exhibits massively enhanced cation selectivity and ion transport properties. Consequently, an amazingly high power density up to ∼52.1 W/m 2 with an unprecedented energy conversion efficiency of 37.5% can be reached by mixing simulated salt-lake water (5 M NaCl) and river water (0.01 M NaCl). Both efficiency indexes surpass those of most of the state-of-the-art nanofluidic membranes. This work offers insights into the design of highly ion-selective membranes to achieve ultrafast ion transport and high-performance osmotic energy harvesting.

Source: Nano Letters

DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c03836

Authors: Yi-Chuan Lin, Hong-Hsu Chen, Chien-Wei Chu, Li-Hsien Yeh

Institutions: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Feng Chia University

Language: English

Topic: Nanopore and Nanochannel Transport Studies

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,500