1
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Tsutsui M, Hsu WL, Garoli D, Leong IW, Yokota K, Daiguji H, Kawai T. Gate-All-Around Nanopore Osmotic Power Generators. ACS NANO 2024; 18:15046-15054. [PMID: 38804145 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c01989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Nanofluidic channels in a membrane represent a promising avenue for harnessing blue energy from salinity gradients, relying on permselectivity as a pivotal characteristic crucial for inducing electricity through diffusive ion transport. Surface charge emerges as a central player in the osmotic energy conversion process, emphasizing the critical significance of a judicious selection of membrane materials to achieve optimal ion permeability and selectivity within specific channel dimensions. Alternatively, here we report a field-effect approach for in situ manipulation of the ion selectivity in a nanopore. Application of voltage to a surround-gate electrode allows precise adjustment of the surface charge density at the pore wall. Leveraging the gating control, we demonstrate permselectivity turnover to enhanced cation selective transport in multipore membranes, resulting in a 6-fold increase in the energy conversion efficiency with a power density of 15 W/m2 under a salinity gradient. These findings not only advance our fundamental understanding of ion transport in nanochannels but also provide a scalable and efficient strategy for nanoporous membrane osmotic power generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makusu Tsutsui
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, 8-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 5267-0047, Japan
| | - Wei-Lun Hsu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Denis Garoli
- Optoelectronics Research Line, Instituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Morego 30, I-16163 Genova, Italy
| | - Iat Wai Leong
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, 8-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 5267-0047, Japan
| | - Kazumichi Yokota
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Takamatsu, Kagawa 761-0395, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Daiguji
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Tomoji Kawai
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, 8-1 Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 5267-0047, Japan
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2
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Huang D, Zou K, Wu Y, Li K, Zhang Z, Liu T, Chen W, Yan Z, Zhou S, Kong XY, Jiang L, Wen L. TRPM4-Inspired Polymeric Nanochannels with Preferential Cation Transport for High-Efficiency Salinity-Gradient Energy Conversion. J Am Chem Soc 2024. [PMID: 38842082 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c02629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Biological ion channels exhibit switchable cation transport with ultrahigh selectivity for efficient energy conversion, such as Ca2+-activated TRPM4 channels tuned by cation-π interactions, but achieving an analogous highly selective function is challenging in artificial nanochannels. Here, we design a TRPM4-inspired cation-selective nanochannel (CN) assembled by two poly(ether sulfone)s, respectively, with sulfonate acid and indole moieties, which act as cation-selective activators to manage Na+/Cl- selectivity via ionic and cation-π interactions. The cation selectivity of CNs can be activated by Na+, and thereby the Na+ transference number significantly improves from 0.720 to 0.982 (Na+/Cl- selectivity ratio from 2.6 to 54.6) under a 50-fold salinity gradient, surpassing the K+ transference number (0.886) and Li+ transference number (0.900). The TRPM4-inspired nanochannel membrane enabled a maximum output power density of 5.7 W m-2 for salinity-gradient power harvesting. Moreover, a record energy conversion efficiency of up to 46.5% is provided, superior to most nanochannel membranes (below 30%). This work proposes a novel strategy to biomimetic nanochannels for highly selective cation transport and high-efficiency salinity-gradient energy conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dehua Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Kehan Zou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Yuge Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Ke Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Zhehua Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Tianchi Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
| | - Weipeng Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
| | - Zidi Yan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Shengyang Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
| | - Xiang-Yu Kong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
- Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou Jiangsu 215123, PR China
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei Anhui 230026, PR China
| | - Lei Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
| | - Liping Wen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR China
- Suzhou Institute for Advanced Research, University of Science and Technology of China, Suzhou Jiangsu 215123, PR China
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei Anhui 230026, PR China
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3
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Tsutsui M, Hsu W, Yokota K, Leong IW, Daiguji H, Kawai T. Scalability of nanopore osmotic energy conversion. EXPLORATION (BEIJING, CHINA) 2024; 4:20220110. [PMID: 38855615 PMCID: PMC11022616 DOI: 10.1002/exp.20220110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Artificial nanofluidic networks are emerging systems for blue energy conversion that leverages surface charge-derived permselectivity to induce voltage from diffusive ion transport under salinity difference. Here the pivotal significance of electrostatic inter-channel couplings in multi-nanopore membranes, which impose constraints on porosity and subsequently influence the generation of large osmotic power outputs, is illustrated. Constructive interference is observed between two 20 nm nanopores of 30 nm spacing that renders enhanced permselectivity to osmotic power output via the recovered electroneutrality. On contrary, the interference is revealed as destructive in two-dimensional arrays causing significant deteriorations of the ion selectivity even for the nanopores sparsely distributed at an order of magnitude larger spacing than the Dukhin length. Most importantly, a scaling law is provided for deducing the maximal membrane area and porosity to avoid the selectivity loss via the inter-pore electrostatic coupling. As the electric crosstalk is inevitable in any fluidic network, the present findings can be a useful guide to design nanoporous membranes for scalable osmotic power generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makusu Tsutsui
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial ResearchOsaka UniversityIbarakiOsakaJapan
| | - Wei‐Lun Hsu
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringThe University of TokyoBunkyo‐kuTokyoJapan
| | - Kazumichi Yokota
- Health and Medical Research InstituteNational Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)TakamatsuKagawaJapan
| | - Iat Wai Leong
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial ResearchOsaka UniversityIbarakiOsakaJapan
| | - Hirofumi Daiguji
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringThe University of TokyoBunkyo‐kuTokyoJapan
| | - Tomoji Kawai
- The Institute of Scientific and Industrial ResearchOsaka UniversityIbarakiOsakaJapan
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4
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Wang J, Song Z, He M, Qian Y, Wang D, Cui Z, Feng Y, Li S, Huang B, Kong X, Han J, Wang L. Light-responsive and ultrapermeable two-dimensional metal-organic framework membrane for efficient ionic energy harvesting. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2125. [PMID: 38459037 PMCID: PMC10923900 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46439-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Nanofluidic membranes offer exceptional promise for osmotic energy conversion, but the challenge of balancing ionic selectivity and permeability persists. Here, we present a bionic nanofluidic system based on two-dimensional (2D) copper tetra-(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin framework (Cu-TCPP). The inherent nanoporous structure and horizontal interlayer channels endow the Cu-TCPP membrane with ultrahigh ion permeability and allow for a power density of 16.64 W m-2, surpassing state of-the-art nanochannel membranes. Moreover, leveraging the photo-thermal property of Cu-TCPP, light-controlled ion active transport is realized even under natural sunlight. By combining solar energy with salinity gradient, the driving force for ion transport is reinforced, leading to further improvements in energy conversion performance. Notably, light could even eliminate the need for salinity gradient, achieving a power density of 0.82 W m-2 in a symmetric solution system. Our work introduces a new perspective on developing advanced membranes for solar/ionic energy conversion and extends the concept of salinity energy to a notion of ionic energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Wang
- Research Institute of Membrane Separation Technology of Shaanxi Province, Key Laboratory of Membrane Separation of Shaanxi Province, School of Environmental & Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yan Ta Road, Xi'an, 710000, China.
| | - Zeyuan Song
- Research Institute of Membrane Separation Technology of Shaanxi Province, Key Laboratory of Membrane Separation of Shaanxi Province, School of Environmental & Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yan Ta Road, Xi'an, 710000, China
| | - Miaolu He
- Research Institute of Membrane Separation Technology of Shaanxi Province, Key Laboratory of Membrane Separation of Shaanxi Province, School of Environmental & Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yan Ta Road, Xi'an, 710000, China
| | - Yongchao Qian
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 29 Zhongguancun East Road, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Di Wang
- Research Institute of Membrane Separation Technology of Shaanxi Province, Key Laboratory of Membrane Separation of Shaanxi Province, School of Environmental & Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yan Ta Road, Xi'an, 710000, China
| | - Zheng Cui
- Research Institute of Membrane Separation Technology of Shaanxi Province, Key Laboratory of Membrane Separation of Shaanxi Province, School of Environmental & Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yan Ta Road, Xi'an, 710000, China
| | - Yuan Feng
- Research Institute of Membrane Separation Technology of Shaanxi Province, Key Laboratory of Membrane Separation of Shaanxi Province, School of Environmental & Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yan Ta Road, Xi'an, 710000, China
| | - Shangzhen Li
- Research Institute of Membrane Separation Technology of Shaanxi Province, Key Laboratory of Membrane Separation of Shaanxi Province, School of Environmental & Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yan Ta Road, Xi'an, 710000, China
| | - Bo Huang
- Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 28, West Xianning Road, Xi'an, 710049, China
| | - Xiangyu Kong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 29 Zhongguancun East Road, Beijing, 100190, China.
| | - Jinming Han
- Research Institute of Membrane Separation Technology of Shaanxi Province, Key Laboratory of Membrane Separation of Shaanxi Province, School of Environmental & Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yan Ta Road, Xi'an, 710000, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Research Institute of Membrane Separation Technology of Shaanxi Province, Key Laboratory of Membrane Separation of Shaanxi Province, School of Environmental & Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yan Ta Road, Xi'an, 710000, China.
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5
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Jia X, Zhang M, Zhang Y, Fu Y, Sheng N, Chen S, Wang H, Du Y. Enhanced Selective Ion Transport in Highly Charged Bacterial Cellulose/Boron Nitride Composite Membranes for Thermo-Osmotic Energy Harvesting. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:2218-2225. [PMID: 38277614 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c04343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Significant untapped energy exists within low-grade heat sources and salinity gradients. Traditional nanofluidic membranes exhibit inherent limitations, including low ion selectivity, high internal resistance, reliance on nonrenewable resources, and instability in aqueous solutions, invariably constraining their practical application. Here, an innovative composite membrane-based nanofluidic system is reported, involving the strategy of integrating tailor-modified bacterial nanofibers with boron nitride nanosheets, enabling high surface charge densities while maintaining a delicate balance between ion selectivity and permeability, ultimately facilitating effective thermo-osmotic energy harvesting. The device exhibits an impressive output power density of 10 W m-2 with artificial seawater and river water at a 50 K temperature gradient. Furthermore, it demonstrates robust power density stability under prolonged exposure to salinity gradients or even at elevated temperatures. This work opens new avenues for the development of nanofluidic systems utilizing composite materials and presents promising solutions for low-grade heat recovery and osmotic energy harvesting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiwei Jia
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai 201418, P. R. China
| | - Minghao Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai 201418, P. R. China
| | - Yating Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai 201418, P. R. China
| | - Yuyang Fu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai 201418, P. R. China
| | - Nan Sheng
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, P. R. China
- Shanghai Shipbuilding Technology Research Institute, Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Shiyan Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, P. R. China
| | - Huaping Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, P. R. China
| | - Yong Du
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai 201418, P. R. China
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6
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Geng Y, Zhang L, Li M, He Y, Lu B, He J, Li X, Zhou H, Fan X, Xiao T, Zhai J. Nano-Confined Effect and Heterojunction Promoted Exciton Separation for Light-Boosted Osmotic Energy Conversion. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2309128. [PMID: 38308414 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202309128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
The osmotic energy conversion properties of biomimetic light-stimulated nanochannels have aroused great interest. However, the power output performance is limited by the low light-induced current and energy conversion efficiency. Here, nanochannel arrays with simultaneous modification of ZnO and di-tetrabutylammonium cis-bis(isothiocyanato)bis(2,20-bipyridyl-4,40-dicarboxylato) ruthenium (II) (N719) onto anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) to combine the nano-confined effect and heterojunction is designed, which demonstrate rectified ion transport behavior due to the asymmetric composition, structure and charge. High cation selectivity and ion flux contribute to the high power density of ≈7.33 W m-2 by mixing artificial seawater and river water. Under light irradiation, heterojunction promoted the production and separation of exciton, enhanced cation selectivity, and improved the utilization efficiency of osmotic energy, providing a remarkable power density of ≈18.49 W m-2 with an increase of 252% and total energy conversion efficiency of 30.43%. The work opens new insights into the biomimetic nanochannels for high-performance energy conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutong Geng
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
| | - Liangqian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
| | - Mengjie Li
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
| | - Youfeng He
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
| | - Bingxin Lu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
| | - Jianwei He
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
| | - Xuejiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
| | - Hangjian Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
| | - Xia Fan
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
| | - Tianliang Xiao
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Hebei Key Laboratory of Nano-Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, 066004, P. R. China
| | - Jin Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Inspired Smart Interfacial Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, P. R. China
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7
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Ma S, Hao J, Hou Y, Zhao J, Lin C, Sui X. Confined amphipathic ionic-liquid regulated anodic aluminum oxide membranes with adjustable ion selectivity for improved osmotic energy conversion. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 653:1217-1224. [PMID: 37797497 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.09.181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
To attain carbon neutrality and carbon peaking, there is an urgent need to convert the vast amount of blue energy present between seawater and river water into usable electricity. Reverse electrodialysis based on ion-exchange membranes is a promising way to efficiently achieve osmotic energy conversion. Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes are frequently used for osmotic energy harvesting because of their uniform nanopore channels, high flux, and excellent stability. However, the existing surface modification methods are complex and inefficient. In this study, an amphiphilic ionic liquid was selected to modify a porous anodic alumina membrane via simple capillary insertion. Due to the abundance of pH-dependent amphiphilic OH groups on the surface of AAO pore channels, the ionic liquids not only provide abundant surface charge but can also intelligently adjust its surface charge to different environments. In addition, it fills the AAO nanochannels to provide a continuous ion transport network. The modified hybrid membrane achieves efficient and stable osmotic energy conversion performance. This simple and feasible strategy paves the way for further improvements in commercial membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhui Ma
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Jinlin Hao
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Yushuang Hou
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Jiawei Zhao
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Cuncai Lin
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Xin Sui
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
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8
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Li Q, Zhou K, Zhu B, Liu X, Lao J, Gao J, Jiang L. Artificial Sodium Channels for Enhanced Osmotic Energy Harvesting. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:28038-28048. [PMID: 38039312 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c08902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Inspired by the ion channels of electric eels, we can use biomimetic nanofluidic materials to harvest the osmotic power released by mixing seawater and river water. While biological ion channels have both cation/anion and inter-cation selectivity, previous nanofluidic materials neglected the latter. As a result, NaCl solutions were generally used to simulate river water, ignoring the fact that the dominating cation in river water is typically Ca2+. In this work, we show that the different ionic compositions of seawater and river water can be exploited to improve osmotic power density by employing biomimetic sodium selective materials. Inspired by a range of properties of biological sodium channels, we constructed artificial sodium channels with zeolitic imidazolate framework-65 crystals, which selectively transport Na+ but almost completely block Ca2+. Resultantly, the effective concentration gradient of seawater/river water is dramatically increased by preventing the major cations in the river water from participating in the ion diffusion. As a result, the osmotic power density can be increased by more than 1 order of magnitude. These results should open new avenues to develop high-performance osmotic generators and may advance other applications based on biomimetic ion channels such as neuromorphic information processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Li
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, China
- School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
| | - Ke Zhou
- College of Energy, Soochow Institute for Energy and Materials InnovationS (SIEMIS), Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory for Advanced Carbon Materials and Wearable Energy Technologies, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Bin Zhu
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, China
| | - Xueli Liu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Marine Biobased Materials, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Junchao Lao
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, China
- Shanghai Key Lab of Advanced High-temperature Materials and Precision Forming and State Key Lab of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jun Gao
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, China
- Shandong Energy Institute, Qingdao 266101, China
| | - Lei Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
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9
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Xia J, Gao H, Pan S, Huang T, Zhang L, Sui K, Gao J, Liu X, Jiang L. Light-Augmented Multi-ion Interaction in MXene Membrane for Simultaneous Water Treatment and Osmotic Power Generation. ACS NANO 2023; 17:25269-25278. [PMID: 38071658 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c08487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
The mixing of wastewater and natural water releases abundant osmotic energy. Harvesting this energy could significantly reduce the energy and economic cost of water treatment, leading to sustainable wastewater treatment technology. Yet, such energy harvesting is highly challenging because it requires a material that is highly permeable to nontoxic ions while rejecting toxic ions in wastewater to reach high power density and prevent environmental pollution. In this work, we demonstrate that a light-augmented biomimetic multi-ion interaction in an MXene membrane can simultaneously realize high permeability of Na+ ions for enhanced osmotic power generation and high selectivity to heavy metal ions up to a ratio of 2050 for wastewater treatment. The Na+ permeability is enhanced by the photothermal effect of the MXene membrane. The transport of heavy metal ions, however, is suppressed because, under angstrom-confinement, heavy metal ions are strongly electrostatically repelled by the increased number of permeating Na+ ions. As a result, the membrane can stably generate osmotic power from simulated industrial wastewater, and the power density can be enhanced by 4 times under light illumination of approximate 1 sun intensity. This work highlights the importance of multi-ion interaction for the transport properties of ionic materials, which remains rarely investigated and poorly understood in previous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxiang Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, P. R. China
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, P. R. China
| | - Hongfei Gao
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, P. R. China
| | - Shangfa Pan
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, P. R. China
| | - Tao Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, P. R. China
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, P. R. China
| | - Li Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, P. R. China
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, P. R. China
| | - Kunyan Sui
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, P. R. China
| | - Jun Gao
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, P. R. China
- Shandong Energy Institute, Qingdao 266101, P. R. China
- Qingdao New Energy Shandong Laboratory, Qingdao 266101, P. R. China
| | - Xueli Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, P. R. China
| | - Lei Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
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Huang T, Kan X, Fan J, Gao H, Yu L, Zhang L, Xia J, Gao J, Liu X, Sui K, Jiang L. Two-Dimensional Sodium Channels with High Selectivity and Conductivity for Osmotic Power Generation from Wastewater. ACS NANO 2023; 17:17245-17253. [PMID: 37638530 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c05149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Conducting target ions rapidly while rejecting rival ions efficiently is challenging yet highly demanded for ion separation related applications. Two-dimensional (2D) channels are widely used for ion separation, but highly selective 2D channels generally suffer from a relatively low ionic conductivity. Here we report that the 2D vermiculite channels have a Na+ conductivity higher than bulk and at the same time reject heavy metal ions with a selectivity of a few hundreds. Such performance is attributed to the highly electronegative crystal surface and the extremely narrow channel (0.2 nm high), as also supported by the ab initio molecular dynamics simulation. We demonstrate that the highly selective and conductive sodium channels can be utilized to harvest osmotic power from industrial wastewater, achieving a power density of more than 20 W m-2 while preventing pollution from waste heavy metal ions. This work provides a strategy for wastewater utilization as well as treatment. Moreover, the investigation suggests the possibility to break the ionic permeability-selectivity trade-off by combining Ångstrom-scale confinement with proper surface engineering, which could lead to applications that are challenging for previous materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, P. R. China
| | - Xiaonan Kan
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, P. R. China
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, P. R. China
| | - Jilong Fan
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, P. R. China
| | - Hongfei Gao
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, P. R. China
| | - Lei Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, P. R. China
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, P. R. China
| | - Li Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, P. R. China
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, P. R. China
| | - Jiaxiang Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, P. R. China
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, P. R. China
| | - Jun Gao
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, P. R. China
- Shandong Energy Institute, Qingdao 266101, P. R. China
- Qingdao New Energy Shandong Laboratory, Qingdao 266101, P. R. China
| | - Xueli Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, P. R. China
| | - Kunyan Sui
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, P. R. China
| | - Lei Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China
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11
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Zhang F, Yu J, Si Y, Ding B. Meta-Aerogel Ion Motor for Nanofluid Osmotic Energy Harvesting. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2302511. [PMID: 37295070 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202302511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Osmotic power, also known as "blue energy", is a vast, sustainable, and clean energy source that can be directly converted into electricity by nanofluidic membranes. However, the key technological bottleneck for large-scale osmotic electricity is that macroscopic-scale bulky membrane cannot synergistically satisfy the demands of high power density and low resistance without sacrificing scalability and mechanical robustness. Here, inspired by the anatomy and working principle of electric eels, which harness osmotic energy through embedded neuron-mediated fibril nanochannels with nanoconfined transport dynamics. Fibrous nanofluidic meta-aerogel ion motors, 3D-assembled from nanofluidic cable fibers with actuatable stimulation/transport "ion highways" are engineered. The meta-aerogel exhibits the integrated coupling effect of boosted ion propulsion and surface-charge-dominated selective ion transport. Driven by osmosis, the meta-aerogel ion motor can produce an unprecedented output power density of up to 30.7 W m-2 under a 50-fold salinity gradient. Advancing ultra-selective ion transport in nanofluidic meta-aerogels may provide a promising roadmap for blue energy harvesting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Jianyong Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
- Innovation Center for Textile Science and Technology, Donghua University, Shanghai, 200051, China
| | - Yang Si
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
- Innovation Center for Textile Science and Technology, Donghua University, Shanghai, 200051, China
| | - Bin Ding
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Textiles, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
- Innovation Center for Textile Science and Technology, Donghua University, Shanghai, 200051, China
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12
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Zhang L, Pan S, Liu Y, Yu L, Huang T, Xia J, Liu X, Gao J, Sui K, Jiang L. Janus carbon nitride membrane for robust and enhanced nanofluidic power generation from wastewater. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 242:120285. [PMID: 37413750 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Nanofluidic membranes have shown great promise in harvesting osmotic power. Yet, previous studies extensively focused on osmotic energy released by the mixing of seawater and river water, while there exist many other osmotic energy sources, such as the mixing of wastewater with other water. However, harvesting the osmotic power of wastewater is highly challenging because it requires the membranes to have environmental remediation capabilities to avoid pollution and biofouling, which has not been satisfied by previous nanofluidic materials. In this work, we demonstrate that a Janus carbon nitride membrane can be used for simultaneous power generation and water purification. The Janus structure of the membrane generates asymmetric band structure and therefore a built-in electric field, facilitating electron-hole separation. As a result, the membrane shows strong photocatalytic capability, which efficiently degrades organic pollutants and kills microorganisms. In particular, the built-in electric field also facilitates ionic transport, significantly promoting the osmotic power density up to 30 W/m2 under simulated sunlight illumination. The power generation performance can be robustly kept with or without the presence of pollutants. This study will shed light on the development of multi-functional power generation materials for the comprehensive utilization of industrial wastewater as well as domestic sewage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, P R China; Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, PR China
| | - Shangfa Pan
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, PR China
| | - Yang Liu
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, PR China
| | - Lei Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, P R China; Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, PR China
| | - Tao Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, P R China; Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, PR China
| | - Jiaxiang Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, P R China; Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, PR China
| | - Xueli Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, P R China.
| | - Jun Gao
- Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266101, PR China; Shandong Energy Institute, Qingdao 266101, PR China.
| | - Kunyan Sui
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-textiles, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Biobased Fibers and Ecological Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, P R China.
| | - Lei Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, PR China
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Awati A, Zhou S, Shi T, Zeng J, Yang R, He Y, Zhang X, Zeng H, Zhu D, Cao T, Xie L, Liu M, Kong B. Interfacial Super-Assembly of Intertwined Nanofibers toward Hybrid Nanochannels for Synergistic Salinity Gradient Power Conversion. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023. [PMID: 37235387 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c03464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Capturing the abundant salinity gradient power into electric power by nanofluidic systems has attracted increasing attention and has shown huge potential to alleviate the energy crisis and environmental pollution problems. However, not only the imbalance between permeability and selectivity but also the poor stability and high cost of traditional membranes limit their scale-up realistic applications. Here, intertwined "soft-hard" nanofibers/tubes are densely super-assembled on the surface of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) to construct a heterogeneous nanochannel membrane, which exhibits smart ion transport and improved salinity gradient power conversion. In this process, one-dimensional (1D) "soft" TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) are wrapped around "hard" carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to form three-dimensional (3D) dense nanochannel networks, subsequently forming a CNF-CNT/AAO hybrid membrane. The 3D nanochannel networks constructed by this intertwined "soft-hard" nanofiber/tube method can significantly enhance the membrane stability while maintaining the ion selectivity and permeability. Furthermore, benefiting from the asymmetric structure and charge polarity, the hybrid nanofluidic membrane displays a low membrane inner resistance, directional ionic rectification characteristics, outstanding cation selectivity, and excellent salinity gradient power conversion performance with an output power density of 3.3 W/m2. Besides, a pH sensitive property of the hybrid membrane is exhibited, and a higher power density of 4.2 W/m2 can be achieved at a pH of 11, which is approximately 2 times more compared to that of pure 1D nanomaterial based homogeneous membranes. These results indicate that this interfacial super-assembly strategy can provide a way for large-scale production of nanofluidic devices for various fields including salinity gradient energy harvesting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abuduheiremu Awati
- Shanghai Key Lab of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, P. R. China
| | - Shan Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Shanghai Key Lab of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, P. R. China
| | - Ting Shi
- Shanghai Key Lab of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, P. R. China
| | - Jie Zeng
- Department of Chemistry, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Shanghai Key Lab of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, P. R. China
| | - Ran Yang
- Shanghai Key Lab of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, P. R. China
| | - Yanjun He
- Department of Chemistry, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Shanghai Key Lab of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, P. R. China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Shanghai Key Lab of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, P. R. China
| | - Hui Zeng
- Department of Chemistry, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Shanghai Key Lab of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, P. R. China
| | - Dazhang Zhu
- Shanghai Key Lab of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, P. R. China
| | - Tongcheng Cao
- Shanghai Key Lab of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, P. R. China
| | - Lei Xie
- School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P. R. China
| | - Mingxian Liu
- Shanghai Key Lab of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, P. R. China
| | - Biao Kong
- Department of Chemistry, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Shanghai Key Lab of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, P. R. China
- Yiwu Research Institute of Fudan University, Yiwu, Zhejiang 322000, P. R. China
- Shandong Research Institute, Fudan University, Shandong 250103, P. R. China
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