Wood Batteries: A Green Substitute to Lithium batteries

Sodium-ion batteries are a type of reusable battery that uses sodium-ions as a way to store power in a compact system. This type of battery is still in a developmental phase but is forecasted to be a cheaper, more durable way to store energy than commonly used lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are common in consumer electronics as they are one of the most popular types of rechargeable battery for portable electronics, with one of the best energy densities, no memory effect, and only a slow loss of charge when not in use.

Currently lithium-ion batteries are the preferred portable battery as after approximately 50 cycles most sodium-ion batteries tend to store only about 50% of original capacity. However, lithium batteries maintain their capacity. As lithium is in short supply, whereas sodium is much more abundant and also environment-friendly, it would greatly lower the price of the product if the modern day batteries were switched over to a sodium-ion cell.

Scientists at University of Maryland have designed a ‘green’ battery using a sliver of wood covered with tin. The various parts in the battery are a thousand times slimmer than a paper piece. They used wood fibers, which are apt for storing liquid electrolytes, allow the sodium-ion battery to keep going for more than 400 charging cycles.

It is being said that the wood fibers, which are soft and mesoporous, can be set up as a new platform for a budget sodium ion battery.

The study was published in journal Nano Letters.