Pollen-Based Electrodes Could Boost Battery Storage (thestack.com)

An anonymous reader writes: Bee pollen could hold the answer to next generation battery research, according to a new study led by scientists at Purdue University, Indiana. The team has been exploring how the unique microstructures found in allergen pollen grains could be used to provide a more energy efficient type of energy storage. The research explained that by turning pollen into a carbon anode with a more efficient microstructure than graphite, the team was able to create a battery which could store more energy than conventional graphite models. The scientists took the pollen from honeybees and common wetland plant cattails, and discovered that cattail pollen had more energy-storing capacity, compared to the bee pollen.

Comments

Bee's don't make pollen.

[technosaurus]

It would make sense that the more uniform structure from the same type of pollen would produce better results at first. Perhaps later research will show that purposefully alternating layers of smaller and larger pollens produces better yields. The "bee pollen" could be any number of shapes and sizes.

Why would bee pollen (sic) be the answer?

[darthsilun]

If cattail pollen performed better, why isn't cattail pollen the answer?