Evaluation of Nanoporous Polymer Membranes for Electrokinetic Energy Conversion in Power Applications

Electrokinetic energy conversion for pumping or power generation has for the past decade regained attention with focus on applications within pumping in nanofluidics or microgenerators. Little experimental work has been published and mostly in relation to clean-room fabricated nanopores. In the present study, it is suggested that electrokinetic energy conversion has a potential as future decentralized electrical energy sources, if polymer membranes are used. On the basis of new electrokinetic measurements and literature data, we have made a systematic study of commercially available nanoporous polymer membranes and found a promising first law efficiency of 5.5% in one polymer-electrolyte system. It is likely that future more rigorous and targeted studies will find even larger conversion efficiencies.