On February 28, the French National Center for Scientific Research released a statement announcing that scientists from the agency have developed a groundbreaking nanotube capable of converting osmotic energy into electricity. This new technology generates power that is over 1,000 times more efficient than existing methods, marking a major breakthrough in renewable energy research.
Osmotic energy generation typically involves placing a semi-permeable membrane between freshwater and saltwater, where the natural flow of water through the membrane creates pressure that can drive a turbine to produce electricity. However, current technologies only generate about 3 watts per square meter of membrane, which limits their practical application. This low efficiency has prevented widespread adoption of osmotic power as a viable energy source.
To address this challenge, researchers at the French National Center for Scientific Research designed an innovative experimental setup. The device consists of an insulating, waterproof membrane embedded with boron nitride nanotubes, each with an outer diameter of just tens of nanometers. These nanotubes were carefully inserted through the membrane, with electrodes placed at both ends. When fresh and saltwater were introduced on either side of the membrane, the system generated electricity at a rate 1,000 times higher than conventional technologies.
The team believes the enhanced performance stems from the negatively charged surface of the boron nitride nanotubes, which attract positively charged ions (cations) from the saltwater. This interaction facilitates a more efficient movement of ions through the nanotubes, resulting in increased electrical output. The discovery could pave the way for more efficient and scalable osmotic energy systems, potentially offering a sustainable solution for clean power generation in the future.
This development was reported by Huang Han.
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