Capacitive flow electrode systems that generate electricity from salinity gradients are limited by low power densities, inefficient electrical current collection, and complex system operation. We show here the proof-of-concept that a single reverse electrodialysis cell using continuously recirculated activated carbon flow electrodes can generate uninterrupted electricity from an artificial sea/river water gradient. Power densities reached 61 ± 5.7 mW m⁻² (normalized to total membrane surface area) and current densities 2.4 ± 0.13 A m⁻² when a 10% by weight carbon loading was used with graphite plate current collectors. Using high-surface area graphite brush current collectors, maximum power densities increased more than 320% to 260 ± 8.7 mW m⁻² and maximum current densities more than 400% to 14 ± 0.59 A m⁻². The performance improvements were attributed to a more than 80% decrease in electrode resistances when brushes were used instead of plates. A control static capacitive electrode system obtained slightly higher average power densities (290 ± 8.7 mW m⁻²), but could not produce it continuously, highlighting the operational advantage of the recirculated flow electrode design.

中文翻译：

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在逆电渗析中使用连续循环的流动电极发电

由盐度梯度发电的电容式流动电极系统受到低功率密度，低效率的电流收集和复杂的系统操作的限制。我们在这里显示了概念证明，即使用连续再循环的活性炭流量电极的单个反向电渗析池可以从人造海/河水梯度中产生不间断的电。当石墨板集电器使用10％重量的碳负载时，功率密度达到61±5.7 mW m ^-2（标准化为总膜表面积），电流密度为2.4±0.13 A m ^-2。使用高表面积石墨电刷集电器，最大功率密度提高了320％以上，达到260±8.7 mW m ^-2最大电流密度超过400％，达到14±0.59 A m ^-2。性能的提高归因于使用电刷代替极板时电极电阻降低了80％以上。控制静态电容电极系统获得了稍高的平均功率密度（290±8.7 mW m ^-2），但无法连续产生，这凸显了循环流电极设计的操作优势。