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Energy from streaming potential using nanotechnology – 1

Energy from streaming potential using nanotechnology – 1

Yanbo Xie

This Ph.D. project is aimed at the development of methods and devices to produce electrochemical energy from streaming water. A streaming potential and a streaming current are generated when liquid water is pumped through a porous medium. Recent theoretical work has indicated that very high conversion efficiencies from the mechanical to the electrical domain can be obtained from this process. In order to obtain such efficiencies, our aim is to investigate and develop micromachined porous membranes with nanosized pores.

Use of the streaming potential represents a sustainable way of generating energy, producing no CO₂. In this project we hope to couple the generation of electricity to the in-situ generation of hydrogen in one process, thereby increasing efficiency as well as providing energy in an alternative storable form. Hydrogen is seen as a useful alternative energy carrier, and a hydrogen-based society can be a viable sustainable alternative for the present day fossil energy-based society.

Two Ph.D. students are appointed on this project. The Ph.D. student in this project will focus on the practical side of the work, developing structures for energy generation, constructing the measurement setup and performing measurements.