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Artificial light-driven ion pump for photoelectric energy conversion

Author

Listed:
  • Kai Xiao

    (Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces)

  • Lu Chen

    (Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces
    Beihang University)

  • Ruotian Chen

    (Dalian Institute of Chemical Physic (DICP))

  • Tobias Heil

    (Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces)

  • Saul Daniel Cruz Lemus

    (Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces)

  • Fengtao Fan

    (Dalian Institute of Chemical Physic (DICP))

  • Liping Wen

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Lei Jiang

    (Beihang University
    Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Markus Antonietti

    (Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces)

Abstract

Biological light-driven ion pumps move ions against a concentration gradient to create a membrane potential, thus converting sunlight energy directly into an osmotic potential. Here, we describe an artificial light-driven ion pump system in which a carbon nitride nanotube membrane can drive ions thermodynamically uphill against an up to 5000-fold concentration gradient by illumination. The separation of electrons and holes in the membrane under illumination results in a transmembrane potential which is thought to be the foundation for the pumping phenomenon. When used for harvesting solar energy, a sustained open circuit voltage of 550 mV and a current density of 2.4 μA/cm2 can reliably be generated, which can be further scaled up through series and parallel circuits of multiple membranes. The ion transport based photovoltaic system proposed here offers a roadmap for the development of devices by using simple, cheap, and stable polymeric carbon nitride.

Suggested Citation

  • Kai Xiao & Lu Chen & Ruotian Chen & Tobias Heil & Saul Daniel Cruz Lemus & Fengtao Fan & Liping Wen & Lei Jiang & Markus Antonietti, 2019. "Artificial light-driven ion pump for photoelectric energy conversion," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-08029-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-08029-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Ren, Qinlong & Zhu, Huangyi & Chen, Kelei & Zhang, J.F. & Qu, Z.G., 2022. "Similarity principle based multi-physical parameter unification and comparison in salinity-gradient osmotic energy conversion," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    2. Song, Dongxing & Li, Lu & Huang, Ce & Wang, Ke, 2023. "Synergy between ionic thermoelectric conversion and nanofluidic reverse electrodialysis for high power density generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 334(C).

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