Neuromorphic van der Waals crystals for substantial energy generation

Abstract

Controlling ion transport in nanofluidics is fundamental to water purification, bio-sensing, energy storage, energy conversion, and numerous other applications. For any of these, it is essential to design nanofluidic channels that are stable in the liquid phase and enable specific ions to pass. A human neuron is one such system, where electrical signals are transmitted by cation transport for high-speed communication related to neuromorphic computing. Here, we present a concept of neuro-inspired energy harvesting that uses confined van der Waals crystal and demonstrate a method to maximise the ion diffusion flux to generate an electromotive force. The confined nanochannel is robust in liquids as in neuron cells, enabling steady-state ion diffusion for hundred of hours and exhibiting ion selectivity of 95.8%, energy conversion efficiency of 41.4%, and power density of 5.26 W/m2. This fundamental understanding and rational design strategy can enable previously unrealisable applications of passive-type large-scale power generation.

Verification of Carrier Concentration‐Dependent Behavior in Water‐Infiltration‐Induced Electricity Generation by Ionovoltaic Effect

“…Moreover, the ionovoltaic effect mechanism provided an important insight in verifying the origin of electrical energy generation via various water motions. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][36][37][38][39][40][41]…”

“…The phenomena of electricity generation by the interaction of water and porous structures have attracted great academic attentions. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Specifically, infiltrating water droplets into porous structures generates much electric power, thus it shows capability as a power supply in the future. [5][6][7][8] Moreover, owing to the electricity being generated by the liquid-solid interfacial phenomenon, it also shows potential as various ions or molecules sensors.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Specifically, infiltrating water droplets into porous structures generates much electric power, thus it shows capability as a power supply in the future. [5][6][7][8] Moreover, owing to the electricity being generated by the liquid-solid interfacial phenomenon, it also shows potential as various ions or molecules sensors. [9,10] Nowadays, the influence of important factors such as ion concentration of water, the configuration of the wet and dry region, and the three-phase contact line motion on electricity generation has been demonstrated.…”

Sustainable power generation for at least one month from ambient humidity using unique nanofluidic diode

“…However, it is still not clear how the ion current inside the device and the electronic current in the load resistance can be converted to each other. The traditional streaming potential usually relies on the oxidation-reduction reaction of the electrode to convert the ionic current into a continuous electronic current 39,40,43 . However, as mentioned before and shown in Fig.…”

“…iv. The strong hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces formed at the CNT/AAO interface endow the hybrid membrane with excellent robustness in humid environment, and such robust structure enables steady-state ion transportation and guarantees the long-term stability 39,40 .…”