Biomimetic Salinity Power Generation Based on Silk Fibroin Ion-Exchange Membranes

Powering implanted medical devices (IMDs) is a long-term challenge since their use in biological environments requires a long-term and stable supply of power and a biocompatible and biodegradable battery system. Here, silk fibroin-based ion-exchange membranes are developed using bionics principles for reverse electrodialysis devices (REDs). Silk fibroin nanofibril (SNF) membranes are negatively and positively modified, resulting in strong cation and anion selectivity that regulates ion diffusion to generate electric power. These oppositely charged SNF membranes are assembled with Ag/AgCl electrodes into a multicompartment RED. By filling them with 10 and 0.001 mM NaCl solutions, a maximum output power density of 0.59 mW/m2 at an external loading resistance of 66 kΩ is obtained. In addition, 10 pairs of SNF membranes produce a considerable voltage of 1.58 V. This work is a proof of concept that key components of battery systems can be fabricated with protein materials. Combined with the emergence of water-based battery technologies, the findings in this study provide insights for the construction of tissue-integrated batteries for the next generation of IMDs.