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High-performance silk-based hybrid membranes employed for osmotic energy conversion

Author

Listed:
  • Weiwen Xin

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zhen Zhang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Key Laboratory of Green Printing, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiaodong Huang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yuhao Hu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Teng Zhou

    (College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Hainan University Haikou)

  • Congcong Zhu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiang-Yu Kong

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Lei Jiang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Liping Wen

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

The salinity gradient between seawater and river water is a clean energy source and an alternative solution for the increasing energy demands. A membrane-based reverse electrodialysis technique is a promising strategy to convert osmotic energy to electricity. To overcome the limits of traditional membranes with low efficiency and high resistance, nanofluidic is an emerging technique to promote osmotic energy harvesting. Here, we engineer a high-performance nanofluidic device with a hybrid membrane composed of a silk nanofibril membrane and an anodic aluminum oxide membrane. The silk nanofibril membrane, as a screening layer with condensed negative surface and nanochannels, dominates the ion transport; the anodic aluminum oxide membrane, as a supporting substrate, offers tunable channels and amphoteric groups. Thus, a nanofluidic membrane with asymmetric geometry and charge polarity is established, showing low resistance, high-performance energy conversion, and long-term stability. The system paves avenues for sustainable power generation, water purification, and desalination.

Suggested Citation

  • Weiwen Xin & Zhen Zhang & Xiaodong Huang & Yuhao Hu & Teng Zhou & Congcong Zhu & Xiang-Yu Kong & Lei Jiang & Liping Wen, 2019. "High-performance silk-based hybrid membranes employed for osmotic energy conversion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-11792-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11792-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Rezakazemi, Mashallah & Arabi Shamsabadi, Ahmad & Lin, Haiqing & Luis, Patricia & Ramakrishna, Seeram & Aminabhavi, Tejraj M., 2021. "Sustainable MXenes-based membranes for highly energy-efficient separations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    2. Ren, Qinlong & Zhu, Huangyi & Chen, Kelei & Zhang, J.F. & Qu, Z.G., 2022. "Similarity principle based multi-physical parameter unification and comparison in salinity-gradient osmotic energy conversion," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    3. Zhang, X.F. & Zhang, X. & Qu, Z.G. & Pu, J.Q. & Wang, Q., 2022. "Thermal-enhanced nanofluidic osmotic energy conversion with the interfacial photothermal method," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 326(C).
    4. Kecheng Guan & Yanan Guo & Zhan Li & Yuandong Jia & Qin Shen & Keizo Nakagawa & Tomohisa Yoshioka & Gongping Liu & Wanqin Jin & Hideto Matsuyama, 2023. "Deformation constraints of graphene oxide nanochannels under reverse osmosis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    5. Di Wei & Feiyao Yang & Zhuoheng Jiang & Zhonglin Wang, 2022. "Flexible iontronics based on 2D nanofluidic material," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.

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