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Slippery Ions Create a Smoother Path to Blue Energy

Researchers at EPFL have coated silicon‑nitride nanopores with lipid‑bilayer lubricants, creating a thin hydration layer that dramatically reduces ion friction. This "hydration lubrication" enables ions to slip through the nanofluidic channels at unprecedented speeds while preserving selectivity. In tests mimicking seawater‑river water mixing, the membrane delivered a power density of about 15 W m⁻², roughly two to three times higher than leading polymer‑based osmotic energy devices. The work bridges high‑porosity polymer designs with precise nanofluidic engineering, pointing toward scalable blue‑energy systems.