Revolutionizing Energy Storage: A Sustainable Zinc and Lignin Battery
Researchers from Swedish universities have developed a low-cost, sustainable battery using zinc and lignin, a waste product from the paper industry. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which pose environmental and social challenges, zinc-based batteries offer safety and recyclability. The team addressed zinc’s reactivity issue with water by using a specialized electrolyte, resulting in a stable battery with a week-long charge retention and 8,000 cycle lifespan.
This technology, scalable to car battery size, offers comparable energy density to lead-acid batteries without toxic components. The researchers aim to make this technology accessible and affordable, particularly in low-income countries transitioning to renewable energy. Their findings were published in Energy & Environmental Materials.