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Aqueous All-PolymerBatteries Based on Cellulose-BasedElectrodes
Summary
Scientists have created a new type of battery made from cellulose (a natural material found in plants) instead of the synthetic plastics used in most polymer batteries today. This matters because when regular batteries break down, they can shed tiny plastic particles—microplastics—that pollute the environment and may end up in our bodies; this cellulose-based battery works well (holding a charge through 300 charge cycles) while being biodegradable, offering a potentially safer alternative for small electronics as our society tries to reduce plastic waste.
Using redox-active polymers as electroactive materials enables the development of all-polymer batteries that eliminate the need for toxic or scarce metals. However, current polymer batteries typically rely on synthetic, nonbiodegradable polymers, and the “end-of-life” disposal of these batteries leads to micro- and nanoplastic pollution. This study introduces a sustainable, cellulose-based aqueous all-polymer battery featuring a TEMPO-grafted cellulose cathode (P1) and an anthraquinone-modified cellulose anode (P2), both synthesized through simple chemical modifications. Using a brine electrolyte, the cell delivers a working voltage of 1.3 V and an initial discharge capacity of approximately 90 mAh/g based on P1, retaining over 70% of its capacity after 300 cycles, with a Coulombic efficiency exceeding 99%. By replacing nonbiodegradable carbon–carbon backbones with biomass materials, this research demonstrates a potential environmentally friendly rechargeable battery for low-energy, fast-turnover consumer electronics.