It is a well-known fact that electronic waste is becoming an increasingly big problem for our planet. For this reason, scientists continue their research on sustainable technologies. A study published on Scientific Reports on July 28 also shows that a newly produced battery can work in terms of sustainability.
The researchers who conducted the study developed a disposable paper battery that can be activated with water. You may remember that a battery that could operate at -35 degrees was produced before. It was stated that this newly developed battery can have a great impact on devices used in the medical and industrial fields and contribute to the issue of electronic waste.
Provides as much power as a standard alkaline battery
According to scientists, the battery stands out for being biodegradable (biodegradable). It is also among the statements that the product is made from sustainable materials and has a cheap cost. In addition, it is stated that the battery can be produced in various shapes and sizes according to the need.
Wanting to give an idea about the power provided by the battery, the researchers stated that a two-cell battery developed using the specified technology has enough power to operate an alarm clock with an LCD screen. Of course, it can be said that this battery is not currently possible to charge devices such as laptops. But the new technology has a lot of potential for low-power devices.
“We offer a printed paper battery to power disposable electronics and minimize their environmental impact,” the researchers wrote in the published article about the technology they developed. It is reported that the battery, which is formed by using zinc, graphite, paper and water-based electrolyte as the separator between the electrodes, can provide power close to the level of a standard alkaline battery.
Adding that the battery can generate power after 20 seconds of adding up to two drops of water, experts said that batteries with low environmental impact are needed due to waste problems; that’s why they want to increase the efficiency of the battery in the future and make it work longer.
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