Interfacial Assembly of Two-Dimensional Graphene-Derived Ion Channels for Water-Based Green Energy Conversion.

The utilization of sustained and green energy is believed to alleviate increasing menace of global environmental concerns and energy dilemma. Interfacial assembly of two-dimensional graphene-derived ion channels (2D-GDIC) with tunable ion/fluid transport behavior enables efficient harvesting of renewable green energy from ubiquitous water, especially for osmotic energy harvesting. In this Review, we summarize various interfacial assembly strategies for fabricating diverse 2D-GDICs and discuss their ion transport properties. We analyze how particular structure and charge density/distribution of 2D-GDIC can be modulated to minimize internal resistance of ion/fluid transport and enhance energy conversion efficiency, and we highlight stimuli-responsive functions and stability of 2D-GDIC and further examine the possibility of integrating 2D-GDIC with other energy conversion systems. Notably, the presented preparation and applications of 2D-GDIC also inspire and guide other 2D materials to fabricate sophisticated ion channels for targeted applications. Finally, we analyze potential challenges in this field and offer a prospect to future developments toward high-performance or large-scale real-word applications. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.