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Ion transport-triggered rapid flexible hydrovoltaic sensing

Author

Listed:
  • Changlei Ge

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
    University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Mingxu Wang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS))

  • Yuchen Zhou

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
    University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Yongfeng Wang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS))

  • Feijun Zhao

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS))

  • Cunkai Zhou

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
    University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Jun Ma

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
    University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Feng Wen

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS))

  • Shuqi Wang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
    University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Mengyuan Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS))

  • Shuanglan Wang

    (University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Yujie Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS))

  • Hao Shen

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS))

  • Fuqin Sun

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS))

  • Lianhui Li

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
    University of Science and Technology of China)

  • Ting Zhang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
    University of Science and Technology of China)

Abstract

The hydrovoltaic effect, based on interactions at the solid-liquid interface, offers a promising route for ion sensing. However, it is hampered by long response times, typically several minutes, due to slow ion diffusion equilibrium in nanochannels. Here, we demonstrate a rapid, flexible hydrovoltaic ion sensing strategy enabled by fast ion transport. Apart from the drag resistance reduction resulting from the ordered nanochannels and gravity elimination along the nanochannel direction, the liquid-driven effect concurrent with low-resistance shear flow at the liquid-liquid transport zone in semi-dry nanochannels are proposed to achieve an open-circuit voltage exceeding 4.0 V within 0.17 s, being two orders of magnitude faster than previous works with infiltration channels. Moreover, the obtained flexible hydrovoltaic device exhibits a wide ion sensing range of 10−7 to 100 M, a maximum sensitivity up to −1.69 V dec-1 for NaCl, and distinctive multi-dimensional signals, enabling its application in selective ion sensing and sweat electrolyte monitoring.

Suggested Citation

  • Changlei Ge & Mingxu Wang & Yuchen Zhou & Yongfeng Wang & Feijun Zhao & Cunkai Zhou & Jun Ma & Feng Wen & Shuqi Wang & Mengyuan Liu & Shuanglan Wang & Yujie Liu & Hao Shen & Fuqin Sun & Lianhui Li & T, 2025. "Ion transport-triggered rapid flexible hydrovoltaic sensing," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-63549-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63549-1
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