A polymeric nanopore membrane with selective ionic transport has been proposed as a potential device to convert the chemical potential energy in salinity gradients to electrical power. However, its energy conversion e...A polymeric nanopore membrane with selective ionic transport has been proposed as a potential device to convert the chemical potential energy in salinity gradients to electrical power. However, its energy conversion efficiency and power density are often limited due to the challenge in reliably controlling the size of the nanopores with the conventional chemical etching method. Here we report that without chemical etching, polyimide （PI） membranes irradiated with GeV heavy ions have negatively charged nanopores, showing nearly perfect selectivity for cations over anions, and they can generate electrical power from salinity gradients. We further demonstrate that the power generation efficiency of the PI membrane approaches the theoretical limit, and the maximum power density reaches 130m W/m2 with a modified etching method, outperforming the previous energy conversion device that was made of polymeric nanopore membranes.展开更多
The gradient copolymers of acrylic acid and trifluoroethyl methacrylate（coded as P（TFEMAgrad-AA）） were synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation transfer（RAFT） emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization. Th...The gradient copolymers of acrylic acid and trifluoroethyl methacrylate（coded as P（TFEMAgrad-AA）） were synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation transfer（RAFT） emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization. The spontaneous batch feeding approach was used to control the gradient chain sequence. Transmission electron microscopy（TEM） analysis revealed that the P（TFEMA-grad-AA） can self-assemble to form spherical micelles, rodlike micelles or vesicles in selective solvents. Morphological transition of the P（TFEMA-grad-AA） micelles was sensitive to the water content of the dioxane/water mixed solvent. More interestingly, Ag nanoparticles（NPs） were encapsulated by the P（TFEMA-grad-AA） micelles during the selfassembly process. The gradient chain sequence made the Ag NPs easily enter the core of the micelles, even when P（TFEMA-grad-AA） had less hydrophobic fluoro-units and more hydrophilic units. TEM images with energy dispersive spectrometer indicated that the nanocomposite micelles consisted of a Ag NPs core and a gradient copolymer shell.展开更多
A hydrophobic-hydrophilic gradient rod with a length of 40 mm and a diameter of 3 mm was prepared by heating a polymethylsilsesquioxane rod in a cylindrical stove with temperature gradient. The rod was thus pyrolyzed ...A hydrophobic-hydrophilic gradient rod with a length of 40 mm and a diameter of 3 mm was prepared by heating a polymethylsilsesquioxane rod in a cylindrical stove with temperature gradient. The rod was thus pyrolyzed under a temperature gradient condition. The organic end of the gradient rod appears hydrophobic with a contact angle of 109.9° while the other end is hydrophilic with a contact angle of 62.4°. The gradient chemical structure and the gradient microstructure along the rod were characterized by FTIR and SEM, respectively.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No 11335003
文摘A polymeric nanopore membrane with selective ionic transport has been proposed as a potential device to convert the chemical potential energy in salinity gradients to electrical power. However, its energy conversion efficiency and power density are often limited due to the challenge in reliably controlling the size of the nanopores with the conventional chemical etching method. Here we report that without chemical etching, polyimide （PI） membranes irradiated with GeV heavy ions have negatively charged nanopores, showing nearly perfect selectivity for cations over anions, and they can generate electrical power from salinity gradients. We further demonstrate that the power generation efficiency of the PI membrane approaches the theoretical limit, and the maximum power density reaches 130m W/m2 with a modified etching method, outperforming the previous energy conversion device that was made of polymeric nanopore membranes.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.50803048 and 50703030)
文摘The gradient copolymers of acrylic acid and trifluoroethyl methacrylate（coded as P（TFEMAgrad-AA）） were synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation transfer（RAFT） emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization. The spontaneous batch feeding approach was used to control the gradient chain sequence. Transmission electron microscopy（TEM） analysis revealed that the P（TFEMA-grad-AA） can self-assemble to form spherical micelles, rodlike micelles or vesicles in selective solvents. Morphological transition of the P（TFEMA-grad-AA） micelles was sensitive to the water content of the dioxane/water mixed solvent. More interestingly, Ag nanoparticles（NPs） were encapsulated by the P（TFEMA-grad-AA） micelles during the selfassembly process. The gradient chain sequence made the Ag NPs easily enter the core of the micelles, even when P（TFEMA-grad-AA） had less hydrophobic fluoro-units and more hydrophilic units. TEM images with energy dispersive spectrometer indicated that the nanocomposite micelles consisted of a Ag NPs core and a gradient copolymer shell.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 20074039) and National 863High-technology Project as well as the Science Foundation of PPLAS (No. 00-B-01).
文摘A hydrophobic-hydrophilic gradient rod with a length of 40 mm and a diameter of 3 mm was prepared by heating a polymethylsilsesquioxane rod in a cylindrical stove with temperature gradient. The rod was thus pyrolyzed under a temperature gradient condition. The organic end of the gradient rod appears hydrophobic with a contact angle of 109.9° while the other end is hydrophilic with a contact angle of 62.4°. The gradient chemical structure and the gradient microstructure along the rod were characterized by FTIR and SEM, respectively.
