Anomalous Channel-Length Dependence in Nanofluidic Osmotic Energy Conversion

摘要: Recent advances in materials science and nanotechnology have lead to considerable interest constructing ion-channel-mimetic nanofluidic systems for energy conversion storage. The conventional viewpoint suggests that gain high electrical energy, the longitudinal dimension of nanochannels (L) should be reduced so as bring down resistance ion transport provide ionic flux. Here, counterintuitive channel-length dependence is described osmotic power generation. For short (with length L < 400 nm), converted electric persistently decreases with decreasing channel length, showing an anomalous, non-Ohmic response. combined thermodynamic analysis numerical simulation prove excessively impairs charge selectivity channels induces strong concentration polarization. These two factors eventually undermine generation its efficiency. Therefore, optimal between 1000 nm order maximize power, while balancing findings reveal importance a long-overlooked element, guidance design high-performance devices.