Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Korea.
Center for Multi-Dimensional Materials, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Korea.
Nat Commun. 2021 Jan 4;12(1):47. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-20296-9.
Controlling ion transport in nanofluidics is fundamental to water purification, bio-sensing, energy storage, energy conversion, and numerous other applications. For any of these, it is essential to design nanofluidic channels that are stable in the liquid phase and enable specific ions to pass. A human neuron is one such system, where electrical signals are transmitted by cation transport for high-speed communication related to neuromorphic computing. Here, we present a concept of neuro-inspired energy harvesting that uses confined van der Waals crystal and demonstrate a method to maximise the ion diffusion flux to generate an electromotive force. The confined nanochannel is robust in liquids as in neuron cells, enabling steady-state ion diffusion for hundred of hours and exhibiting ion selectivity of 95.8%, energy conversion efficiency of 41.4%, and power density of 5.26 W/m. This fundamental understanding and rational design strategy can enable previously unrealisable applications of passive-type large-scale power generation.
控制纳米流体中的离子输运对于水净化、生物传感、储能、能量转换以及许多其他应用至关重要。对于所有这些应用，设计在液相中稳定且允许特定离子通过的纳米流体通道是必不可少的。人类神经元就是这样的系统，其中阳离子传输用于高速通信，与神经形态计算有关。在这里，我们提出了一种受神经启发的能量收集概念，该概念利用受限的范德华晶体，并展示了一种最大化离子扩散通量以产生电动势的方法。受限的纳米通道在液体中与神经元细胞一样坚固，能够稳定地进行离子扩散数百小时，并表现出 95.8%的离子选择性、41.4%的能量转换效率和 5.26 W/m 的功率密度。这种基本的理解和合理的设计策略可以实现以前无法实现的被动式大规模发电应用。
