TY - JOUR
TI - Unlocking osmotic energy harvesting potential in challenging real-world hypersaline environments through vermiculite-based hetero-nanochannels
AU - Wang, J
AU - Cui, Z
AU - Li, S
AU - Song, Z
AU - He, M
AU - Huang, D
AU - Feng, Y
AU - Liu, Y
AU - Zhou, K
AU - Wang, X
AU - Wang, L
T2 - Nature Communications
AB - Nanochannel membranes have demonstrated remarkable potential for osmotic energy harvesting; however, their efficiency in practical high-salinity systems is hindered by reduced ion selectivity. Here, we propose a dual-separation transport strategy by constructing a two-dimensional (2D) vermiculite (VMT)-based heterogeneous nanofluidic system via an eco-friendly and scalable method. The cations are initially separated and enriched in micropores of substrates during the transmembrane diffusion, followed by secondary precise sieving in ultra-thin VMT laminates with high ion flux. Resultantly, our nanofluidic system demonstrates efficient osmotic energy harvesting performance, especially in hypersaline environment. Notably, we achieve a maximum power density of 33.76 W m−2, a 6.2-fold improvement with a ten-fold increase in salinity gradient, surpassing state-of-the-art nanochannel membranes under challenging conditions. Additionally, we confirm practical hypersaline osmotic power generation using various natural salt-lake brines, achieving a power density of 25.9 W m−2. This work triggers the hopes for practical blue energy conversion using advanced nanoarchitecture.
DA - 2024/01//
PY - 2024
VL - 15
SP - 608
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-44434-1
DO - 10.1038/s41467-023-44434-1
LA - English
KW - Salinity Gradient
KW - Performance
ER -