Sunlight-driven Ion pump for use in Solar Photo-dialysis Technology
The electrodialysis cell is powered directly by the sunlight, using >85% less energy than other state of the art solar-driven electrodialysis cells
Desalination Integrated Solar Photo-Dialysis
Potable water is a universal human need. Desalination is an important tool for creating potable water from salt water sources, either in regions that lack sufficient freshwater sources or for disaster relief. Current desalination technologies are expensive and inefficient, even on large scale. State of the art solar-driven electrodialysis cells use 5 times the minimum energy required by thermodynamics. Traditionally, a solar cell is separately used to generate electricity which is in turn used to power an electrodialysis cell. This involves inefficiencies in both the electricity generation and powering of the cell. The inventors at UCI have developed an integrated solar electrodialysis device which is driven directly by sunlight. The device uses a photoacid-dye-functionalized membrane to drive ions through separate filters, leaving behind salt-free water. The process much more efficient than separate solar and electrodialysis cells, using up to 85% less energy.
20180065095
State Of Development The inventors have experimentally verified power generation from a light-absorbing ion exchange membrane (the major technical hurdle) and have numerically modeled the complete dialysis cell. Related Materials Energy Sciences at the Molecule–Material Interface Tech ID/UC Case 27462/2017-190-0 Related Cases 2017-190-0
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