A thermo-electrochemical converter is provided. The converter includes a working fluid, coupled first and second membrane electrode assemblies (MEA), first and second heat transfer members, a heat sink and a heat source. Each MEA includes a first porous electrode operating at a first pressure, a second porous electrode operating at a second pressure which is higher than the first pressure, and an ion conductive membrane sandwiched therebetween. The first MEA compresses the working fluid and the second MEA expands the working fluid. The first heat transfer member is coupled to and thermally interfaces with a low-pressure electrode of the first MEA. The second heat transfer member is coupled to and thermally interfaces with a lowpressure electrode of the second MEA. The heat sink is coupled to the low-pressure side of the first MEA and the heat source is coupled to the low-pressure side of the second MEA.

Bismuth-based, chloride-storage electrodes and rechargeable electrochemical cells incorporating the chloride-storage electrodes are provided. Also provided are methods for making the electrodes and methods for using the electrochemical cells to remove chloride ions from a sample. The chloride-storage electrodes, which are composed of bismuth metal, can store chloride ions in their bulk by forming BiOCl via an oxidation reaction with bismuth in the presence of an oxygen source.

A method of generating electrical power or hydrogen from thermal energy is disclosed. The method includes separating, by a selectively permeable membrane, a first saline solution from a second saline solution, receiving, by the first saline solution and/or the second saline solution, thermal energy from a heat source, and mixing the first saline solution and the second saline solution in a controlled manner, capturing at least some salinity-gradient energy as electrical power as the salinity difference between the first saline solution and the second saline solution decreases. The method further includes transferring, by a heat pump, thermal energy from the first saline solution to the second saline solution, causing the salinity difference between the first saline solution and the second saline solution to increase.

A method of generating electrical power or hydrogen from thermal energy is disclosed. The method includes separating, by a selectively permeable membrane, a first saline solution from a second saline solution, receiving, by the first saline solution and/or the second saline solution, thermal energy from a heat source, and mixing the first saline solution and the second saline solution in a controlled manner, capturing at least some salinity-gradient energy as electrical power as the salinity difference between the first saline solution and the second saline solution decreases. The method further includes transferring, by a heat pump, thermal energy from the first saline solution to the second saline solution, causing the salinity difference between the first saline solution and the second saline solution to increase.

A reverse electrodialysis device using a precipitation reaction, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises a first cell stack alternately forming solid salt chambers and precipitation chambers through cation-exchange membranes and anion-exchange membranes which are alternately provided, and a first water-soluble solid salt and a second water-soluble solid salt which are filled in the solid salt chambers, wherein the first water-soluble solid salt and the second water-soluble solid salt are alternately filled in the solid salt chambers, and can react with each other so as to generate a precipitate in neighboring precipitation chambers when water is supplied.

A method for producing electrical energy. An electrolyte solution having a first concentration C.sub.A of a solute is placed in a first vessel having an electrode arranged so the electrode is contacted with the electrolyte solution of concentration C.sub.A. An electrolyte solution having a concentration C.sub.B of the same solute is placed in a second vessel having an electrode arranged so the electrode comes in contact with the electrolyte solution of concentration C.sub.B, the concentration C.sub.B being lower than the concentration C.sub.A. The first and the second vessels are separated by a membrane, the membrane having at least one nanochannel arranged to allow diffusion of the electrolyte solution from the first vessel to the second vessel through the at least one nanochannel. An inner surface of the at least one nanochannel is formed of at least one titanium oxide. Electrical energy generated by a potential difference existing between the electrodes is captured using a device having the first and second vessels.

Provided are an iontophoresis device for drug delivery, a method for preparing the iontophoresis device, a kit including the iontophoresis device, and a method for delivering a drug by using the iontophoresis device.

The present invention includes a method including providing an anode and a cathode; providing a desalination device operably coupled to establish an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode when the desalination device is operating; providing water containing dissolved solids; thereby establishing the electrical potential; reducing a salinity of the water by supplying the water to the desalination device; and generating electrical power by reducing the salinity of the water.

A method of generating electrical power or hydrogen from thermal energy is disclosed. The method includes separating, by a selectively permeable membrane, a first saline solution from a second saline solution, receiving, by the first saline solution and/or the second saline solution, thermal energy from a heat source, and mixing the first saline solution and the second saline solution in a controlled manner, capturing at least some salinity-gradient energy as electrical power as the salinity difference between the first saline solution and the second saline solution decreases. The method further includes transferring, by a heat pump, thermal energy from the first saline solution to the second saline solution, causing the salinity difference between the first saline solution and the second saline solution to increase.

An electrical energy generating element includes a first porous electrode, an eggshell membrane, and a second porous electrode. The first porous electrode, the eggshell membrane, and the second porous electrode are stacked on each other in that order. The present application also relates to an electrical energy generating device, a method for generating electrical energy, and a decorative ring.