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Algae Could Be the Key To Ultra-Thin Batteries
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."
The thing is though, I don't know any company, let alone a university research lab, that's making outrageous claims about what could be achieved today. It's always at least 10 years down the road.
Now excuse me, I've got to go read up on all the the groundbreaking work being done on space elevators. I think there's something that can climb a nylon rope 10 feet now. What a wonderful time to be alive!