Researchers from China have developed a membrane that can be used to generate electricity from water. More specifically, energy is extracted from the pressure differences between salt and fresh water.
The researchers have created a thin barrier that can use osmotic energy. This barrier acts as a kind of filter that separates saltwater from freshwater. When they come together, as in a river meeting the sea, it creates energy that can be converted into electricity.
The technology isn’t actually new, but the new design the experts created can produce more than twice as much electricity as membranes currently commercially available. This is evident from laboratory tests. The scientists published a study on the membrane in the journal ACS Energy Letters.
How does it work?
The membrane consists of two separate channels: one for the transport of positively charged particles and one for the transport of negatively charged electrons. The membrane is made of materials that can conduct electricity well. By creating these separate channels, the scientists were able to maximize the efficiency of the transport of ions and electrons.
They then tested this new design in a water tank that simulates the mouth of a river. It could achieve electricity production per unit area more than twice that of commercial membranes. The membrane also remained operational for 16 days straight during the tests.
Although the material has only been tested in the lab so far, the team hopes that it can also be used in the real world. During an experiment, the researchers showed that practical amounts of power can be generated effectively. By connecting 20 membranes, enough power could be generated to power a calculator, LED light and stopwatch.
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