Citation: Xing Zhang, Yumei Wang, Yuntao Zhao, Yue Sun, Yasong Chen, Lei Nie, Zhenglong Li. Hybrid lignin-intercalated MXene membranes for enhanced osmotic energy conversion[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(6): 112025. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.112025 shu

Hybrid lignin-intercalated MXene membranes for enhanced osmotic energy conversion

Xing Zhang ^a ,
Yumei Wang ^a ,
Yuntao Zhao ^b ,
Yue Sun ^{a, *,} ,
Yasong Chen ^{c, *,} ,
Lei Nie ^{d, *,} ,
Zhenglong Li ^{e, *,}

a.
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Separation Membrane Materials, School of Chemistry, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
b.
School of Materials and Chemical Engineering, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315211, China
c.
National Engineering Research Center of Eco-environment Protection for Yangtze River Economic Belt, China Three Gorges Corporation, Wuhan 430012, China
d.
National Key Laboratory of Biobased Transportation Fuel Technology, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
e.
National Key Laboratory of Biobased Transportation Fuel Technology, College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China

sunyue@tiangong.edu.cn

chen_yasong@ctg.com.cn

leinie@zju.edu.cn

zhenglongli@zju.edu.cn

Received Date: 28 May 2025
Revised Date: 22 August 2025
Accepted Date: 26 October 2025
Available Online: 28 October 2025

Figures(4)

Two-dimensional (2D) materials exhibit great potential for osmotic power generation due to their high membrane selectivity. However, performance enhancement remains hindered by substantial resistance arising from tortuous ion transport pathways within 2D nanofluidic membranes. MXenes, a novel class of 2D layered materials, have garnered significant attention as promising candidates for reverse electrodialysis (RED) membranes due to their laminated nanochannels and surface-charged functional groups. Although MXene-derived ion-exchange membranes display exceptional ionic discrimination capabilities and enhanced charge transport properties, their implementation in practical systems is limited by structural fragility and compromised performance under hydrated conditions, primarily due to weak interlayer interactions, restricting their RED performance. This study demonstrates an MXene-sodium ligninsulfonate (MSL) lamellar architecture to feature record-low internal resistance, achieving breakthrough osmotic energy conversion efficiency through synergistic interfacial engineering. In addition, the well-aligned MXene framework significantly shortens ion permeation pathways, thus lowering internal resistance. As a result, the MSL membrane delivers a high power density of approximately 22.15 W/m² when mixing artificial seawater and river water, representing a 6.78-fold improvement over pristine MXene membranes. This interfacial engineering protocol addresses the longstanding trade-off between ion selectivity and membrane durability in nanofluidic systems, paving the way for the practical implementation of MXene-based technologies in marine energy conversion.
- 2D-membrane,
- MXene,
- Lignin,
- Lamellar architecture,
- Reverse electrodialysis
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