Flexible Organic Framework-Modified Membranes for Osmotic Energy Harvesting

Bioinspired membranes are advantageous in capturing the osmotic energy. However, the conventional hybrid membranes possess low harvesting power density due to their low interfacial ionic transport efficiency and high internal resistance. Herein, a new kind of hybrid membranes consisting of porous polymer and flexible organic frameworks was developed. The 3D porous framework enables ions to flux with high efficiency at the polymer-framework interface, resulting in high osmotic energy harvesting efficiency. By systematically screening the pore size of the frameworks, the output power density as high as 5.7 W/m(2) was achieved under 50-fold KCl salinity gradient.

Automated summary

A new type of hybrid membrane composed of porous polymer and flexible organic frameworks was developed, which enables high-efficiency ion flux at the polymer-framework interface, resulting in high osmotic energy harvesting efficiency. By systematically screening the pore size of the frameworks, an output power density as high as 5.7 W/m(2) was achieved under 50-fold KCl salinity gradient.