Singapore expert develops biodegradable flexible paper battery

Experts at Nanyang Technological University have developed a new type of battery that can supply power continuously even when bent or twisted.

There are now biodegradable disposable electronic devices, such as environmental sensors. However, the batteries used to power them still pose ecological problems. That's why a team of experts at Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) created a new type of paper battery with the ability to completely biodegrade, New Atlas on December 14 reported.

The team with three paper battery versions. (Photo: Nanyang Technological University).

The 4 cm x 4 cm battery version can power a small electric fan for 45 minutes. The current is generated without interruption even when it is bent or twisted, even cut.

In the center of the battery is a sheet of cellulose paper, with hydrogel added to fill the space between the cellulose fibers. The paper plate acts as a barrier between the two anode and cathode electrodes printed on the two sides of the paper. Conductive inks used for anode printing are mainly composed of zinc and carbon black, while manganese and nickel are used for cathode printing inks.

When the electrode printing was complete, the team dipped the entire battery in an electrolyte, then coated both electrodes with a thin layer of gold to increase conductivity. The finished product is about 0.4 mm thick and degraded by microorganisms within a month of being buried in the ground.

"As decomposition takes place, electrode materials are released into the environment. The nickel or manganese used in the cathode will remain in the oxide or hydroxide form, close to the natural mineral form. Meanwhile, the zinc in the anode will are naturally oxidized to form non-toxic hydroxides. This shows that the new battery has the potential to become a more sustainable alternative to current batteries," said Professor Fan Hongjin, co-author of the study. with Associate Professor Lee Seok Woo, said.

In addition to being used in disposable electronics, paper batteries could also be used in flexible electronics and smart fabrics. The study by a team of experts at Nanyang Technological University was published in the journal Advanced Science.