A new energy source has been discovered in the difference in salt concentration between seawater and freshwater. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a nanofluidic device that can convert the natural ion flow at the boundaries of seawater and freshwater into usable electrical energy. The device uses Coulomb drag, which exists between flowing ions and electric charges, to generate electricity. The researchers have found that the Coulomb drag is independent of the specific channel configuration and material choice, as long as the channel diameter is narrow enough to ensure proximity between the ions and charges.
The device has shown a high versatility and strong potential for energy applications, according to Jean-Pierre Leburton, the lead researcher. The researchers are currently patenting their findings and developing a device for practical electricity generation. The device could potentially match or even surpass the power density of solar cells, and could also have applications in biomedical sensing and nanofluidics. The researchers are excited about the possibilities of this new energy source, which has been largely untapped until now.
The search for new, climate-neutral energy sources is one of the biggest challenges facing science today. The discovery of this new energy source could be a major breakthrough in the field, and could help to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. The researchers hope that their device will be able to provide a sustainable and renewable source of energy for years to come.
