Abstract
Access to sustainable energy is paramount in today’s world, with a significant emphasis on solar and water-based energy sources. Herein, we develop photo-responsive ionic dye-sensitized covalent organic framework membranes. These innovative membranes are designed to significantly enhance selective ion transport by exploiting the intricate interplay between photons, electrons, and ions. The nanofluidic devices engineered in our study showcase exceptional cation conductivity. Additionally, they can adeptly convert light into electrical signals due to photoexcitation-triggered ion movement. Combining the effects of salinity gradients with photo-induced ion movement, the efficiency of these devices is notably amplified. Specifically, under a salinity differential of 0.5/0.01 M NaCl and light exposure, the device reaches a peak power density of 129 W m−2, outperforming the current market standard by approximately 26-fold. Beyond introducing the idea of photoelectric activity in ionic membranes, our research highlights a potential pathway to cater to the escalating global energy needs.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
