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Generation and Control of Electrohydrodynamic Flows in Aqueous Electrolyte Solutions

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Vacancy Engineering for High-Efficiency Nanofluidic Osmotic Energy Generation.

Javad Safaei¹, Yifu Gao², Mostafa Hosseinpour¹

¹Centre for Clean Energy Technology, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales2007, Australia.

Journal of the American Chemical Society

|January 18, 2023

Summary

Vacancy engineering in 2D nanofluidic membranes significantly boosts osmotic energy generation. This method enhances membrane selectivity, achieving a record power density for clean energy harvesting.

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Area of Science:

Materials Science
Nanotechnology
Energy Harvesting

Background:

Two-dimensional (2D) nanofluidic membranes offer potential for osmotic energy generation.
Low membrane permselectivity currently limits output power densities.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate vacancy engineering as a strategy for improving 2D nanofluidic membrane permselectivity.
To achieve high-efficiency osmotic energy generation.

Main Methods:

Creating phosphorus vacancies on niobium phosphate (NbOPO4) nanosheets (NbP).
Characterizing vacancy-introduced NbP (V-NbP) using experimental and theoretical methods.
Testing V-NbP membranes in a river water|seawater osmotic power generator.

Main Results:

Vacancy engineering significantly increased the negative surface charge of NbP nanosheets.
V-NbP membranes demonstrated fast transmembrane ion migration and high ionic selectivity.
A record power density of 10.7 W m-2 was achieved, surpassing the commercial benchmark of 5.0 W m-2.

Conclusions:

Vacancy engineering is an effective strategy to enhance permselectivity in 2D nanofluidic membranes.
This approach holds significant potential for advancing nanofluidic energy devices.