New organic and cheap eco-friendly

Researchers at the University of Southern California have developed long-life organic batteries that are made from cheap and environmentally friendly components.

The new battery has a similar design to the fuel cell, with two compartments containing electrolytically active and decomposed materials in water, each with electrodes to release energy. The electrolytic capacitated material compartments can be adjusted as needed (increasing the reserve energy) or the central battery pack can be designed to deliver faster or slower energy, varying the amount the system that generates.

Professor of chemistry Sri Narayan

Instead of using metals or toxic chemicals, the team used a decomposing organic compound in quinone - often found in plants, fungi, bacteria and some animals. As a result, new batteries are less environmentally-friendly and cheaper than previous batteries.

New batteries are expected to be used for power plants, which will help the grid to be more durable and more efficient due to its ability to store more electricity.

Professor of chemistry, Sri Narayan, said the new battery could be recharged 5,000 times, with an estimated lifespan of 15 years. Meanwhile, lithium-ion batteries are often damaged after 1,000 recharges and production costs are 10 times higher than new batteries. And Professor Surya Prakash, co-author of the study, said that this type of organic battery will change the energy storage of the grid in a simple, low cost, reliable and sustainable way. It will also pave the way for renewable energy sources.

In particular, the battery can store excess energy and emit it when needed, so it can compensate for the uneven power supply of solar panels and wind turbines.