Paper byproduct holds promise for greener batteries

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In New York, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute scientists are using paper production byproduct lignosulfanoate to produce rechargeable, lithium-Sulphur cells.

So far, the researchers have been able to create a battery the size of a watch battery that can be recharged 200 times.

Lithium-sulphur batteries are able to create twice as much energies per mass as lithium-ion batteries, making them a potential option for electrical grids. Most lignosulfonoate is currently burned, contributing to carbon dioxide emissions.

“Our research demonstrates the potential of using industrial paper-mill by-products to design sustainable, low-cost electrode materials for lithium-sulphur batteries,” Trevor Simmons, a Rensselaer research scientist, tells Biobased World News