Harnessing Plasmonic and Nanofluidic Synergies with Gold‐Embedded Graphene Oxide Frameworks for Osmotic Energy Harvesting

Abstract

Abstract With the growing demand for sustainable energy and environmental solutions, osmotic energy harvesting has become a promising technology, but challenges in membrane stability and multifunctionality remain. This study introduces a novel graphene oxide composite membrane (GO‐Au@UiO‐66‐NH 2 ‐PSSA, GAUP) that achieves excellent osmotic energy conversion and multifunctionality. The hierarchical pore structure in UiO‐66‐NH 2 ensures optimized ion transport paths and selective ion sieving. When the GAUP membrane is photoexcited, the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) generates abundant hot electrons, which migrate from the heterojunction interface and are captured by UiO‐66‐NH₂ to produce photogenerated holes, reducing electron‐hole recombination and enhancing the photocurrent, thus achieving high‐performance osmotic energy conversion (16.5 W m −2 ). It achieves a dye degradation rate of over 90% in wastewater and a bactericidal effect of 99% against Gram‐negative bacteria, reflecting its strong environmental remediation capability. The GAUP membrane effectively addresses ongoing challenges in osmotic energy systems and wastewater treatment, representing a transformative advancement in sustainable nanofluidic technology. Future research may focus on improving its multifunctionality for broader practical applications, promoting deeper integration of renewable energy solutions with environmental management.