Enhanced energy harvesting by reverse electrodialysis in aligned mesoporous silica SBA-15 thin films

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K18024
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Thermal engineering
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Hwang Junho 東京大学, 大学院工学系研究科(工学部), 特任研究員 (60772978)
• Research Collaborator: DAIGUJI Hirofumi 東京大学, 大学院工学研究科, 教授 (10302754) ; ENDO Akira 産業技術総合研究所, 環境化学技術研究部, グループ長
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: マイクル・ナノスケール物質移動 / 熱流体 / 化学工学 / 化学物理

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Recent advances in synthesis, measurement, and analysis techniques of nanofluidic systems have allowed ion transport to be systematically explored in narrow, confined channels with dimensions of less than 10 nm. The aim of this research is to　demonstrate and investigate a mesoporous silica with sub-5 nm in diameter based nanofluidic energy harvesting system powered by salt concentration gradient driven ion-selective transport for the application in miniaturized-electrical devices.
The performance of the energy harvesting system was characterized by both experimental and numerical approaches in terms of maximum open circuit voltages (transmembrane electrical potential difference), maximum zero-volt currents (net ionic current), maximum power output densities, and energy conversion efficiency. In addition, the thermal dependence for nanofluidic energy conversion using the mesoporous silica materials was systematically studied.

Free Research Field

機械工学,　熱工学