A new technology to produce cost-effective batteries from medical waste. This is the bet of researchers from the National University of Science and Technology MISIS (NUST MISiS), supported by colleagues from the United States and Mexico, who have found how the masks used against the coronavirus, oh how much waste pollutants, could be transformed and used as batteries.
To achieve this transformation, the researchers first disinfected the masks using ultrasound. They then dipped them in a graphene-based ink. It is a material with qualities of super conductor, composed of carbon.
Then the masks were compressed and heated to 140°C. They thus form conductive “balls” which function like the electrodes of a battery. These are separated by an insulating layer, itself made up of old masks. Finally, the whole thing is soaked in an electrolyte. As a reminder, it is a chemical component that forms particles that carry an electrical charge. The assembly is then covered with a protective envelope made of another type of medical waste. More precisely, this envelope is made from blister packs of medicines, or in other words, from closed plastic packaging.
For what battery capacity
According to scientists, the batteries have an energy density of 99.7 watt hours per kilogram (Wh/kg). A rate that is close to the energy density of the lithium ion battery, which varies between 100 and 265 Wh/kg. Namely, previously, batteries created using similar technology had a capacity of 10 Wh/kg.
Later in their creation process, the scientists decided to add CaCo oxide-type inorganic perovskite nanoparticles to the electrodes obtained from the masks. It is a mineral or a crystal, composed of calcium oxide and titanium with the formula CaTiO3. Once added to the electrodes, these nanoparticles made it possible to increase the energy capacity of the batteries. It thus reached 208 watt hours / kg.
These new batteries will be thin, flexible and inexpensive. Due to their low cost, they will also be disposable. By comparison, conventional batteries are heavier and coated with metal. Their manufacturing costs are therefore higher.
The new batteries can be used in household appliances. In the future, the scientific team plans to apply this new technology to the production of batteries for electric cars or for solar power plants.
Source: 20minutes
