en.Wedoany.com Reported - Researchers at Rutgers University and the University of Illinois Chicago have collaboratively developed a boron nitride-based thin film material containing millions of microscopic channels, enabling lithium ions to move at speeds up to 31 times faster than predicted by standard diffusion theory, with transport rates far exceeding those of other charged particles.

The related paper was recently published in Nature Nanotechnology, titled "Anomalous ultrafast lithium-ion transport through boron nitride nanotube membranes." The study was led by Semih Cetindag of Rutgers University and Aaditya Pendse of the University of Illinois Chicago.

Sangil Kim, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Illinois Chicago and corresponding author of the paper, stated that the mechanism is similar to how electric eels generate electricity through ion channels in specialized cells. The observed ion transport rates are significantly higher than theoretical estimates and exceed those achieved in existing experimental systems.

To test the film's performance, researchers placed it between ionic solutions of varying salinities. Relying solely on the salt solution gradient, the film was able to power small electronic devices such as watches, calculators, and LED lights.

The paper reports that at a pH of 5.5, the power density per pore can reach 15,300 watts per square meter, with an energy conversion efficiency approaching the theoretical limit of 50%.

The research team indicated that potential applications of this technology include lithium recovery from waste batteries and the development of blue energy generation, which harnesses energy from the interface between saltwater and freshwater.

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