by A team of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsinghua University, and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have developed a new method for storing iontronic energy based on osmotic effects. This innovative approach, outlined in a paper published in Nature Energy, combines osmotic effects and electrode redox reactions to create an efficient and scalable vertical iontronic energy storage system.
The concept of harnessing the energy produced by osmosis, known as osmotic energy or salinity gradient energy, has long been explored as a potential source of sustainable electrical energy. However, the practical and scalable implementation of this energy source has remained a challenge.
The researchers were inspired by previous studies that demonstrated the generation of energy from fast transported ions in water within graphene oxide (GO). They observed that this phenomenon could be utilized to create a safe energy source for applications such as foldable energy sources and wearable electronics. Building on this knowledge, they developed a method that used the efficient ion-transport dynamics of GO’s 2D nanofluidic channels and carefully tailored interfacial redox reactions to store iontronic energy based on osmotic effects.
One of the commonly used methods for osmotic energy conversion is reverse electrodialysis (RED), which relies on ion-selective membranes. However, optimizing the thickness of these membranes has been challenging, as there is a trade-off between selectivity and permeability. The ideal thickness is less than 1 μm, which is fragile and difficult to achieve.
To overcome this limitation, the researchers created a solid-state iontronic energy storage device by spraying various GO-based inks onto charge collectors using an ultrasonic spray-coating system. The inks were then dried onto a PET substrate, and the 2D nanofluidic channels of GO started forming as the inks dried. The electrode gap of the device, covered by GO, serves as the ion-selective membrane and is equivalent to the thickness of the ion-selective membrane in conventional osmotic power sources.
This vertical strategy, utilizing the edge of a PET substrate and Kapton film, enables a reduction in the ion-transport distance and facilitates scalable energy storage. The researchers believe that this method can pave the way for innovative, renewable, ultrathin, and safe power sources.
By leveraging osmotic effects and electrode redox reactions, this new approach offers a promising solution for the efficient and practical storage of iontronic energy. It has the potential to revolutionize the field of sustainable energy generation and storage, enabling the development of portable and wearable devices powered by osmotic energy. Further research and development in this area could lead to significant advancements in the utilization of salinity gradient energy as a clean and renewable energy source.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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