The Battery Of The Future May Be Made Of Paper!

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Paper Power (photo credit: Linköping University)

Creating batteries that are smaller, cheaper, rechargeable and most importantly, environmentally friendly has been the holy grail for engineers across the globe for many years. Now some researchers at Sweden's Linköping University may have finally succeeded in cracking the code with a battery made of paper!

Power Paper is the brainchild of scientists from Linköping University's Laboratory of Organic Electronics. The researchers begin by blasting cellulose, the material that is used to make most paper and cardboard, with high-pressure water until each cellulose strand measures a mere 20 nanometers in diameter. The submerged strands are then exposed to a solution of electrically charged polymer which forms a thin coating around each nanofiber. The coated fibers and the liquid in between that works as an electrolyte, is then fashioned into a thin sheet, resulting in what the researchers call 'Power Paper'.

Photo credit: Linköping University

According to the researchers, one sheet of Power Paper can store up to 1 Faraday, or as much a super capacitor. The only difference? Unlike the bulky capacitor this one measures a mere 15 centimeter (6 inches) wide and a few tenths of a millimeter thick. What's even better is that Power Paper can be recharged hundreds of times, and each charge takes just a few seconds. The lightweight battery that is also waterproof does not require harmful chemicals or heavy metals to manufacture and is extremely environmentally friendly. It should therefore come as no surprise that it has already set four world records!

The researchers who revealed Power Paper, in the online journal Advanced Science on February 2, are now trying to scale the manufacturing process, so that this flexible and sustainable battery can be readily available to power all our devices.

Resources: phys.org, scienceexplorer.com, fe.itn.liu.se.org

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1141 Comments
  • galaxy52
    galaxy52over 3 years
    whoa that's crazy!
    • gold3nglare
      gold3nglareover 3 years
      This is exactly why our planet is dying. that is a ginormous waste of paper! Poor trees.
      • yav2728
        yav2728about 4 years
        that is cray bro
        • 17over 4 years
          the battery isnt made out of paper it is made of the material that paper is made of X(
          • 2mopsalmost 5 years
            that's cool :D
            • Kirishimaabout 5 years
              It's not paper, guys.... did you even read the article?
              • applemango
                applemangoabout 5 years
                The bad side is tat a lot of paper is already being used. So, maybe another solution might be better.
                • shinote
                  shinoteover 5 years
                  Interesssssting
                  • Hmmmmmover 5 years
                    VeRy InTeReStInG🤔🤔
                  • fortnite is dedover 5 years
                    lol