A derivative of crab shells could be used to make highly efficient, environmentally friendly batteries, new research finds.
These new zinc-metal batteries use a gel electrolyte made of chitosan to transfer ions between their positive and negative terminals. Chitosan is a polysaccharide produced by the deacetylation of chitin, a material that makes up the exoskeletons of crustaceans and the cell walls of fungi. Chitosan is biodegradable and abundant, making it a greener option than many other electrolyte materials on the market for storing power from solar or wind farms.
“With the surging demand for electric vehicles in recent years, vast quantities of batteries are being produced and consumed, raising the possibility of environmental problems,” says Meiling Wu, who was the lead author of the research as a postdoctoral associate in materials science and engineering at the Univ. of Maryland. “Thus, we start to apply biodegradable material as a component of rechargeable batteries to alleviate or even prevent environmental concerns.”
Zinc is also...
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