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How much land can be contaminated by an abandoned battery? How much water?
Imagine this: a single battery left on the ground can pollute one square meter of soil, making it unusable for years. And if you toss a small button cell into a river or lake, the toxic chemicals inside could contaminate up to 600,000 liters of water—enough to last a person’s entire lifetime. When will we stop treating batteries as disposable waste?
Recently, researchers from Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Maryland made a breakthrough. They developed what they call a “100% green†battery, not like traditional solar panels. This new battery is made from plant-based materials, designed to be fully biodegradable and environmentally safe.
Traditional solar cells may seem eco-friendly, but they’re far from perfect. Bernard Kippelen, a researcher at Georgia Tech, explains that although these panels generate clean energy, they are difficult to recycle. The production process consumes resources and often leads to waste. In short, we’re just shifting the problem from fossil fuels to other forms of pollution.
Ordinary batteries contain harmful heavy metals like cadmium, lead, and mercury. These toxins are major contributors to environmental damage. To solve this, scientists are looking for a new way to store and generate energy. Why not use the same process that plants use for photosynthesis to create batteries?
After testing thousands of materials, researchers found a promising solution: cellulose nanocrystals (CNC). By using organic compounds, they built a simple structure similar to a plant cell. The result is a biodegradable battery that can dissolve in warm water. “This material is essentially plant-based,†one researcher said. “It uses renewable resources and breaks down naturally after use. That’s real green technology.â€
Currently, the battery has a 2.7% efficiency in converting light into electricity. While that’s among the best for organic materials, it still lags behind conventional solar cells, which can reach up to 24% efficiency. Another challenge is durability. Since the materials are biodegradable, heavy rain could damage the battery. To address this, researchers used nanotechnology to improve its resilience. They coated wood fibers with tin and replaced lithium with sodium, creating a lightweight, water-resistant battery.
If successfully commercialized, this new battery could also benefit workers. Traditional solar panels, especially those made from silicon, release toxic gases during production, posing health risks. With this plant-based alternative, such dangers are significantly reduced.
The team is now working to increase the battery’s efficiency to over 10%. If all goes well, they expect the product to hit the market within five years. This could mark a turning point in sustainable energy storage and environmental protection.
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