Light-driven ion-pumping membrane systems

US11318424B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Shane Ardo · Pasadena, US
• William White · Irvine, US
• Christopher Sanborn · Kilauea, US
• Joseph M. Cardon · Irvine, US
• Ronald S. Reiter · Vista, US
• Eric Schwartz · Irvine, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 7, 2017
• Grant date: May 3, 2022
• Expiry date: Jul 23, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02W10/37
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Dye-sensitized ion-pumping membranes and methods of preparing said membranes are described herein. A regenerative and reversible photoactive dye is covalently-bonded to membrane or separator for ion-pumping. The photoactive dye-functionalized membranes can be arranged with other ion-exchange membranes, which serve as selective contacts to afford photovoltaic action and therefore form a power-producing membrane that pumps ions for use in driving an ion-exchange or ion-transport process, such as desalination and electrodialysis.