Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique

Sweetch Energy

Mikhael Bechelany

Alessandro Siria

Bruno Mottet

Lyderic Bocquet

Lydéric Bocquet

A method for producing electrical energy. An electrolyte solution having a first concentration Cof a solute is placed in a first vessel having an electrode arranged so the electrode is contacted with the electrolyte solution of concentration C. An electrolyte solution having a concentration Cof the same solute is placed in a second vessel having an electrode arranged so the electrode comes in contact with the electrolyte solution of concentration C, the concentration Cbeing lower than the concentration C. The first and the second vessels are separated by a membrane, the membrane having at least one nanochannel arranged to allow diffusion of the electrolyte solution from the first vessel to the second vessel through the at least one nanochannel. An inner surface of the at least one nanochannel is formed of at least one titanium oxide. Electrical energy generated by a potential difference existing between the electrodes is captured using a device having the first and second vessels.

Device for producing energy by salinity gradient through titanium oxide nanofluid membranes

The present invention relates to a device for producing electrical energy, including two vessels A and B intended for each receiving a concentrated electrolyte solution Cand Cin the same solute and each including an electrode arranged so as to come into contact with the electrolyte solution, a membrane separating the two vessels, said membrane including at least one nanochannel arranged to allow the diffusion of the electrolytes from one vessel to the other through said one or more nanochannels, and a device making it possible to supply the electrical energy spontaneously generated by the differential in potential that exists between the two electrodes, characterised in that at least one portion of the inner surface of the one or more nanochannels is essentially made up of at least one titanium oxide. The present invention likewise relates to a method for producing electrical energy using said device.

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Montpellier, France

Mikhael Bechelany