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Algae Could Be the Key To Ultra-Thin Batteries

Posted by Soulskill on from the green-power-that's-actually-green dept.

MikeChino writes "Algae is often touted as the next big thing in biofuels, but the slimy stuff could also be the key to paper-thin biodegradable batteries, according to researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden. Uppsala researcher Maria Stromme and her team has found that the smelly algae species that clumps on beaches, known as Cladophora, can also be used to make a type of cellulose that has 100 times the surface area of cellulose found in paper. That means it can hold enough conducting polymers to effectively recharge and hold electricity for long amounts of time. Eventually, the bio batteries could compete with commercial lithium-ion batteries."

6 of 54 comments (clear)

  1. green tech by timmarhy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    i wish other industries could make such wild claims and have everyone believe them.

    --
    If you mod me down, I will become more powerful than you can imagine....
    1. Re:green tech by greentshirt · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I don't understand why he gets modded troll for this comment, he's right.

      I'm tired of reading incredible claims that are just not justified by the science.

      When it's done by easy to hate industries like big pharma or big oil, we all jump on it, we should show the sobriety required to do the same when it's from friendlier industries. If anything, these claims hurt the industry by setting up unreal expectations and eventually earning it a reputation of big promises that never deliver.

    2. Re:green tech by ushering05401 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      He's modded troll because he is projecting some sort of faith in these press releases on to the rest of us. Reading green tech/energy content is kinda like reading optimistic sci-fi - you know - gee, wouldn't it be nice.

      Even if the tech is viable, the IP situation in the Western World dictates a long road from conceptualization to delivery. Simply having a story posted doesn't mean anyone is buying into it... Just means we won't be as surprised as everyone else if it turns out to work.

    3. Re:green tech by Interoperable · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's usually not the industry/scientists' fault. It's the science journalists. They're the ones who take good research that's making cautiously optimistic projections for the possibilities of new technologies and turn it into "Scientists say they invented new technology that will abrogate our responsibilities!"

      --
      So if this is the future...where's my jet pack?
  2. Key word... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "Eventually". And that assumes that it's economically feasible, of course.

  3. Could be by j00r0m4nc3r · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Well, anything could be the key to ultra-thin batteries. Wake me up when you find the thing that is the key...