Nanowerk  September 23, 2023
Researchers at the University of Illinois designed a nanofluidic device capable of converting ionic flow into usable electric power. Combining computational and analytical approach based on Green’s function technique and Boltzmann transport formalism they established the onset of electronic current in a doped silicon membrane induced by the long-range Coulomb interaction of ions flowing through a nanofluidic channel. Characterized by an open circuit voltage and short circuit current, the electronic Coulomb drag provided a new paradigm for power harvesting. Their model predicted a current amplification of the ionic drag current because of the large momentum transfer from heavy ions to charge carriers in silicon, which was achieved for both anions and cations flowing in the nanochannel irrespective of the dopant type in the semiconductor. The analysis indicated the versatility of this effect with respect to the nature of the electrolyte and the semiconducting materials, provided proper tuning of their structures and design configurations… read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
Graphical abstract. Credit: Nano Energy, Volume 117, 1 December 2023, 108860Â