A Novel Single-Compartment Concentration Cell Driven by Natural Evaporation for Green Energy Harvesting

摘要

Utilizing the difference in salt concentration of rivers and seas for green energy production has been the subject of many studies since the 1970s.1 Pressure-retarded osmosis (PRO) is one of the methods utilized for harvesting this type of energy and relies on the use of ion-exchange membranes.2 Another method is an electrochemical concentration cell, which relies on differing salt concentrations.3-4 Solar evaporation has been used to maintain the concentration difference in some concentration cells.5 However, in all concentration cells, two separate streams or two separate liquid compartments are required, making the concentration cells expensive and bulky. The two separate streams or compartments also require additional energy to operate. The objective of this study is to demonstrate a simple concentration cell that is driven by natural evaporation and has only one liquid compartment for producing sustainable energy.