In-depth understanding of boosting salinity gradient power generation by ionic diode

Ran Peng; Tong Li; Hanqiong Song; Shiyao Wang; Yongxin Song; Junsheng Wang; Minyi Xu

iScience (Jul 2023)

In-depth understanding of boosting salinity gradient power generation by ionic diode

Ran Peng,
Tong Li,
Hanqiong Song,
Shiyao Wang,
Yongxin Song,
Junsheng Wang,
Minyi Xu

Affiliations

Ran Peng: College of Marine Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Lingshui Road, Dalian 116026 China; Corresponding author
Tong Li: College of Marine Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Lingshui Road, Dalian 116026 China; Dalian Key Lab of Marine Micro/Nano Energy and Self-Powered System, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
Hanqiong Song: College of Marine Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Lingshui Road, Dalian 116026 China
Shiyao Wang: Department of Information Science and Technology, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Sensing and Intelligent Detection, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
Yongxin Song: College of Marine Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Lingshui Road, Dalian 116026 China
Junsheng Wang: Department of Information Science and Technology, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China; Liaoning Key Laboratory of Marine Sensing and Intelligent Detection, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China
Minyi Xu: College of Marine Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Lingshui Road, Dalian 116026 China; Dalian Key Lab of Marine Micro/Nano Energy and Self-Powered System, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China; Corresponding author

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 26, no. 7
p. 107184

Abstract

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Summary: Ionic diodes constructed with asymmetric channel geometry and/or charge layout have shown outstanding performance in ion transport manipulation and reverse electrodialysis (RED) energy collection, but the working mechanism is still indistinct. Herein, we systematically investigated RED energy conversion of straight nanochannel-based bipolar ionic diode by coupling the Poisson-Nernst-Planck and Navier-Strokes equations. The effects of nanochannel structure, charging polarity, and symmetricity as well as properties of working fluids on the output voltage and output power were investigated. The results show that as high-concentration feeding solution is applied, the bipolar ionic diode-based RED system gives higher output voltage and output power compared to the unipolar channel RED system. Under optimal conditions, the voltage output of the bipolar channel is increased by ∼100% and the power output is increased by ∼260%. This work opens a new route for the design and optimization of high-performance salinity energy harvester as well as for water desalination.

Published in iScience

ISSN: 2589-0042 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Science
Website: http://www.cell.com/iscience/home

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