Researchers and companies are increasingly turning to unconventional materials such as burnt cotton and seawater to create sustainable battery technologies. The Japanese firm PJP Eye has developed a unique battery using carbon from burnt cotton.
Okina does say that a high temperature is required, above 3,000C (5,432F). And that 1kg (2.2lbs) of cotton yields 200g (7oz) of carbon – with just 2g (0.07oz) needed for each battery cell. The firm bought a shipment of cotton in 2017 and still hasn't used all of it, says Okina.
Cotton-based batteries for safe and economical solutions in terms of electrolytes, electrodes, and interfaces. Studies of interactions between electrodes and electrolytes to explore contact, charge transfer, and cotton fiber interfaces.
Pyrolysing cotton at high temperatures can produce carbon with a structure that makes it ideal for use in batteries (Credit: Alamy) Mining the lithium and other minerals we need for batteries is taking an increasing toll on the environment. There are alternative materials all around us though. Zip. The power's out.
Cotton could also be used in place of the electrolyte that facilitates the flow of ions between the cathode and anode, potentially creating more stable, solid-state batteries than those currently available, according to some researchers.
Therefore, the construction of these cotton-based batteries will be a step closer to green, and economical options for energy sources. Due to their affordability, quality, and superior electrochemical performance, cotton-based batteries are being considered for industrial applications.