Simultaneous thermoosmotic and thermoelectric responses in nanoconfined electrolyte solutions: Effects of nanopore structures and membrane properties.

Hypothesis: Nanofluidic systems provide an emerging and efficient platform for thermoelectric conversion and fluid pumping with low-grade heat energy. As a basis of their performance enhancement, the effects of the structures and properties of the nanofluidic systems on the thermoelectric response (TER) and the thermoosmotic response (TOR) are yet to be explored.

Methods: The simultaneous TER and TOR of electrolyte solutions in nanofluidic membrane pores on which an axial temperature gradient is exerted are investigated numerically and semi-analytically.