Paper Battery: The Battery Of The Future

 PAPER BATTERY: THE BATTERY OF THE FUTURE

 If we see in today’s era, the energy storage industry is in the hot seat. Electric cars or even electronic devices are among the drivers of demand for more efficient and smaller size batteries with higher storage capacity.

If you explore or noticed out, we always found that batteries have to be disposed of at the conclusion of their lives, no matter whether it is single-use or reusable.

A battery can be defined as an electronic device comprised of the electrochemical cells.  The chemical energy of these electrochemical cells converted into electrical energy. A paper battery is designed or engineered to use a spacer which is formed largely of cellulose.

A paper battery is a flexible and thin storage device that can be used as a battery and also this battery can be used as a capacitor. A paper battery is produced by merging the nano-composite paper and nanotubes. This paper battery consists of the property of a battery like high energy storage capacity and as well as the property of a supercapacitor – which has high energy density, and in result produces extreme power.

This paper battery can be used for various applications as it has various advantages such as folding, molding, shaping, twisting, and also cutting without affecting its efficiency.

As these paper batteries are the combination of the cellulose paper and carbon nanotubes, it facilitates the advantages of long-term usage, a burst of energy, and steady power. Hence, these types of batteries are estimated to use for powering the upcoming future generation’s vehicles and electrical or medical devices.

These batteries can generate electrical energy of 1.5V and the output voltage of such batteries can be customized based on the requirement.

Use Of Paper Battery:

Similar to conventional batteries, these paper batteries can also be used for folding, cutting, and rolling. These paper batteries function as a battery as well as capacitors. It is a modern storage device That is ultra-thin in size. These paper batteries have some special properties such as more biodegradable, bio-compatible, and as well as economical.

 

How paper battery used in cosmetics?

In cosmetics patches, power paper batteries are embedded into it for many applications, such as skin whitening, anti-aging, wrinkles problems, and many more.

Variety of successfully launched products of over 100 cosmetics companies, Power Paper’s thin, disposable, green batteries, and flexible have been integrated into it. In addition to it, Power Paper’s micro patches are also used to enhance the delivery of topical therapeutic formulations. It also used in a variety of novelty-related items, such as voice recorders, electronics greetings, watches, and calculator’s notebook.

 

Paper Battery: Offers future power

These paper batteries have produced a sample larger than a postage stamp that can store that much energy to illuminate a small light bulb. Although, the ambition is to produce reams of paper that could one-day power a car. Prof. Robert, of the Rensselear Polytechnic Institute, said, the paper battery was a glimpse into the future of power storage.

Durability Of Paper Battery

The use of carbon nanotubes in these paper batteries gives extreme flexibility, twisted, the sheets can be rolled, or cut into numerous shapes with no loss in the integrity, or stacked, or efficiency, like paper printer to boost total output.

They are made in a variety of sizes, from postage stamp to broadsheet. They are essentially a piece of paper, but it is designed in a very intelligent way. Its components are molecularly attached to each other.

The end result is a device that looks, feels, and as well weighs exactly the same as paper.

  

Construction Of Paper Battery

Some of the major components  used in the construction of the paper battery includes:

·       Different types of electrolytes are used that include urine, blood, and sweat, which are also termed as bio-electrolytes.

·       Carbon Nanotubes (CNT), a main component, used for making cathode terminal.

·       Lithium metal used for making the anode terminal.

·       Paper (a Cellolose-Separator)

 

7- steps in construction of the paper battery

Step1- Take out a cellulose-based paper and then apply black carbon ink on it.

Step2-  After applying the ink on the paper, spread it all over it.

Step3-  After spreading the ink, over a cellulose surface laminate a thin film.

Step4- Heat the cellulose paper at 80 degrees Celcius for just 5 minutes.

Step5- After applying heat, then, peel off the film from the substrate.

Step6- The electrodes of paper batteries are made up of film, the electrolytes LTO and LCO is connected to different films.

Step7- The functioning of the paper batteries can be checked by connecting the terminals to light-emitting devices(LED).

 

Some Advantages Of Paper Batteries:

·       It is ultra-thin

·       It is flexible

·       It can operate as a battery

·       It can operate as a capacitor

·       It is capable of providing long term steady voltage and energy burst (if only required)

·       It can operate in the temperature range between -77 to 100 degree Celsius

·       Its cellulose is reusable

·       Its cellulose is also biodegradable.

 

Besides its advantages, it has some disadvantages as well…

The carbon nanotubes used in making these paper batteries are really expensive. Also, the e-wastage is generated by these paper batteries which may damage the lungs if it is inhaled.

There are various applications for paper batteries in numerous fields like electronics, the paper battery typically used in laptops, computers, mobile phones, cameras, keyboards, mice, and so on.

As thin as the paper-based batteries are, they are on solid grounds to contribute to the energy storage need for upcoming medical or electronic products.

 

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a dead battery and flat tire.”