A Biodegradable Paper Battery Might Reduce E-Waste

"Swiss researchers have developed a prototype disposable graphite-anode zinc-air battery that can be printed on a paper substrate, which they hope will reduce e-waste by replacing button cells in disposable paper-mounted electronics," writes Slashdot reader drinkypoo. "They demonstrated using it to operate a LCD digital clock." Here's an excerpt from the research published today in Scientific Report: The battery is based on a metal-air electrochemical cell that uses Zinc as a biodegradable metal in the anode, graphite in the cathode, paper as a separator between the electrodes, and a water-based electrolyte. In addition to paper's inherent biodegradability, sustainability and low cost, this design takes advantage of its natural wicking behavior and hygroscopic nature; The battery remains inactive until it contacts with water which then passively absorbs and transports across the paper membrane, thus activating the battery. The anode and cathode materials developed in this work are compatible with additive manufacturing techniques and we demonstrate that the battery can be stencil printed in a wide range of shapes and sizes. "The current collector is composed of graphite flakes, carbon black, shellac and ethanol," adds drinkypoo.

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