Characteristics of ionic transport in highly ordered nanoporous aluminum oxide membranes.
Creators: name: Malyshev, Valerii
name: Oliseveca, Irina
name: Poplausks, Raimonds
name: Erts, Donats
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022
Subjects: energy harvesting
waste heat
waste heat recovery
nanochannels
nanofluidics
electrochemistry
ion intercalation

description: <strong>Abstract:</strong> Highly ordered nanoporous aluminum oxide (PAAO) is one of the most popular and cost-effective platform for various applications: from templates and molecular separation to drug delivery and energy generation [1]. Its’ unique optical and electrochemical properties have been intensively explored as a platform for developing biosensing and energy harvesting nanodevices [2]. Ionic transport properties of membrane materials have the key importance for application of the membrane in the system of generation and storage of energy Highly ordered nanoporous aluminum oxide (PAAO) membranes with different morphological characteristics have been obtained via the standard two-stage scheme anodization of aluminum with subsequent removal of the barrier layer. As the result, membranes with pore diameter from 15 to 40 nm and thickness of PAAO layer (hPAAO) from 9 to 112 μm have been fabricated by anodizing aluminum in 0.3 M oxalic and sulfuric acids. The diameters of the porous channels in sulfuric-PAAO membranes were much smaller (13-20 nm) compared to oxalic-PAAO (33-40 nm) samples. The morphology of the PAAO membranes was characterized by the means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The average values of pore diameters and inter-pore distances for membranes of different thicknesses depend on the type of electrolyte used. For electrochemical measurements PAAO membranes were impregnated with sodium sulfate solution with different concentrations. Resistance of the PAAO membranes filled with electrolyte solution was measured with the use of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. To this end special electrochemical cell was constructed. References: [1] Domagalski, J.T.; Xifre-Perez, E.; Marsal, L.F. Recent Advances in Nanoporous Anodic Alumina: Principles, Engineering, and Applications. Nanomaterials 2021, 11, 430. [2] Malinovskis, U.; Dutovs, A.; Poplausks, R.; Jevdokimovs, D.; Graniel, O.; Bechelany, M.; Muiznieks, I.; Erts, D.; Prikulis, J. Visible Photoluminescence of Variable-Length Zinc Oxide Nanorods Embedded in Porous Anodic Alumina Template for Biosensor Applications. Coatings 2021, 11, 756. <strong>Additional Information:</strong> TRANSLATE project team members Valerii Malyshev and Irina Oliseveca presented at the 80th International Conference of the University of Latvia. TRANSLATE is a €3.4 million EU-funded research project that aims to develop a new nanofluidic platform technology to effectively convert waste heat to electricity. This technology has the potential to improve the energy efficiency of many devices and systems, and provide a radically new zero-emission power source. The TRANSLATE project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 964251, for the action of 'The Recycling of waste heat through the Application of Nanofluidic ChannelS: Advances in the Conversion of Thermal to Electrical energy’. More information can be be found on the TRANSLATE project website: https://translate-energy.eu/