Large-scale salinity gradient power energy harvesting has generated broad attention in recent years, in which affordable ion-selective membranes (ISMs) are essential for its practical implementation. In this study, for the first time, ISMs derived from natural loofah sponge are reported, which have features of high hydrophilicity, superior ion conductivity, and 3D interconnected long fibers. The permselectivity and ion conductivity of loofah-based anion-selective membranes (ASMs) and cation-selective membranes (CSMs) are designed by chemical modification of the surface functional groups of loofah fibers and followed with compression and the resin filling. The charged nanochannels inside the ISMs are served as ion conductive and selective channels based on the nanofluidic effects and Donnan exclusion. Meanwhile, the unique isotropic structure endows excellent dimensional stability under the NaCl solution for months. When ISMs are used for salinity gradient power generation from the gradient of artificial seawater and river water, the maximum power density is 18.3 mW m-2 . When ten units of loofah-based ISMs are stacked in series, a voltage as high as 1.55 V is achieved. The results highlight the great potential of natural fibers for fabricating affordable, durable, and high performance ISMs, paving a sustainable pathway for developing high-performance, durable, and low-cost salinity gradient power generators.
Keywords: 3D interconnected network; ion transfer; natural fibers; reverse electrodialysis; salinity gradient; selectivity.
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