Salinity gradient energy scavenging via insoluble organic molecule electrodes

Herein, an inherently insoluble organic molecular material bis-2,3-diamino-1,4-naphthoquinone (BDANQ) is designed and synthesized. The BDANQ electrode exhibits satisfactory electrochemical performance and rapid charge transport and displays a high specific capacitance (369.33 F g−1 at 0.2 A g−1), better cycling stability (119.03% at 0.2 A g−1 after 1000 cycles), and a high ion diffusion coefficient 4.05 × 10−9 cm2 S−1. When combined with activated carbon electrode, the BDANQ//AC salinity gradient energy conversion device obtains a high energy density of 10.09 J g−1, generates the average power density of 443.8 mW m−2, and exhibits excellent operating stability, which provides new insights for the design of high-performance electrode materials for electrochemical conversion of salinity gradient energy.