Applied Chemistry for Engineering (공업화학)

The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry (한국공업화학회)
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Toward Scalable and Robust Diffusio-Osmotic Membranes for Sustainable Salinity Gradient Energy Harvesting

지속가능한 염분 농도 구배 에너지 수확을 위한 확산삼투 멤브레인 개발 방향

  • Jin-Soo Park (Department of Green Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Sangmyung University)
  • 박진수 (상명대학교 그린화학공학과)
  • Received : 2025.06.07
  • Accepted : 2025.07.10
  • Published : 2025.08.10
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Abstract

The growing demand for sustainable and renewable energy has accelerated interest in salinity gradient energy, or blue energy. While reverse electrodialysis (RED) has traditionally dominated this field, its performance is hindered by ion-selectivity-permeability trade-offs, membrane fouling, and structural vulnerability. Diffusio-osmotic power generation offers a promising alternative by utilizing surface-driven solvent flow through charged nanoconfined channels to convert concentration gradients into electrical energy. This review provides an updated overview of recent advances in diffusion-osmosis (DO)-based systems, focusing on ion size exclusion mechanisms and next-generation membranes, including covalent organic frameworks (COFs), MXene composites, hydrogels, and polymeric nanofluidic membranes. Key design parameters such as surface charge density, electric double layer overlap, pore geometry, and chemical functionalization are examined in detail. COF membranes, with their precisely tunable pores and functional groups, have achieved record-high power densities exceeding 200 W/m2 . Practical challenges, including durability, scalability, and stability under real-water conditions, are addressed. Future directions such as hybrid RED-DO configurations, responsive materials, and scalable fabrication techniques are discussed. By integrating nanofluidic principles with advanced materials engineering, DO technology represents a promising platform for sustainable blue energy harvesting.

물-염분 농도 차이를 활용한 청정에너지인 블루에너지는 지속가능한 에너지원으로 주목받고 있다. 기존의 역전기투석은 이온 선택성-투과성 간 상충, 막 오염, 구조적 결함에 취약하다는 한계가 있다. 이에 비해, 확산삼투는 전하를 띤 나노구조 채널 내에서 용매 흐름을 유도해 농도 구배로부터 전기를 생산하는 혁신적인 접근 방식이다. 본 리뷰는 확산삼투 기반 전력생성 기술의 최신 동향을 종합적으로 요약하며, 이온 크기 배제 메커니즘과 공유-유기 골격체, MXene, 하이드로겔, 고분자 기반 나노유체 막 등 차세대 멤브레인 소재를 중심으로 논의한다. 특히 공유-유기 골격체 막은 조절 가능한 기공과 표면기능화를 통해 200 W/m2 이상의 전력 밀도를 구현하였다. 본고에서는 실용화를 위한 과제로 막의 내구성, 대면적 제조, 실제 수계 조건에서의 안정성 문제도 다루었다. 또한 역전기투석-확산삼투 하이브리드 시스템, 지능형 소재, 대량 생산 공정 등 향후 연구 방향을 제시하며, 나노유체공학과 재료과학을 접목한 확산삼투 기술이 고효율 블루에너지 수확의 새로운 전환점이 될 수 있음을 강조한다.

Keywords

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