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AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsShane Ardo, Gideon Segev, Francesca Toma, Joel Ager, Rylan Kautz, David Larson
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Described herein is an ion pump system implementing an electronic ratchet mechanism produced by modulating a spatially varying electric potential distribution that can result in a net ionic current and voltage. The ion pumping membrane system includes an ion-permeable layer that can also be integrated with ion-selective membranes. The electric potential distribution within the ion-permeable layer is modulated through external stimuli. When immersed in solution, ions within the ion-permeable layer experience a time varying, spatially asymmetric electric field distribution resulting in ratchet-driven direct ion pumping, which can be used in applications such as desalination.
An ion transport structure (110) comprising an ion-permeable layer (112) comprising a porous substrate having an ion-selective material, coupled to at least two contacts (122), wherein the ion transport structure (110) is configured to transport ions across the ion-permeable layer (112) when an input signal is applied to change electric fields within the ion transport structure, resulting in a ratchet-driven ion pump, wherein the input signal is configured to change the electric fields over time.
An ion transport structure (110) comprising a plurality of ion-permeable layers (112) and a plurality of contacts (122) forming a stack disposed on a porous substrate comprising an ion-selective material, in which the ion-permeable layers (112) alternate with the plurality of contacts (122), wherein the ion transport structure (110) is configured to transport ions through the stack when an input signal is applied to change electric fields within the ion transport structure, resulting in a ratchet-driven ion pump, wherein the input signal is configured to change the electric fields over time.
An ion pumping system (100) comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.