Photoelectric responsive ionic channel for sustainable energy harvesting.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 37872199.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-023-42584-w and PMC identifier 10593762.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Access to sustainable energy is paramount in today's world, with a significant emphasis on solar and water-based energy sources. Herein, we develop photo-responsive ionic dye-sensitized covalent organic framework membranes. These innovative membranes are designed to significantly enhance selective ion transport by exploiting the intricate interplay between photons, electrons, and ions. The nanofluidic devices engineered in our study showcase exceptional cation conductivity. Additionally, they can adeptly convert light into electrical signals due to photoexcitation-triggered ion movement. Combining the effects of salinity gradients with photo-induced ion movement, the efficiency of these devices is notably amplified. Specifically, under a salinity differential of 0.5/0.01 M NaCl and light exposure, the device reaches a peak power density of 129 W m<sup>-2</sup>, outperforming the current market standard by approximately 26-fold. Beyond introducing the idea of photoelectric activity in ionic membranes, our research highlights a potential pathway to cater to the escalating global energy needs.