a water-activated, paper-based magnesium-air battery that performs photosynthesis

Historically, conventional batteries, generally lithium ionhave depended on scarce metals extracted using methods that may be harmful to the environment. Besides, his disposal It carries serious ecological dangers because it contains heavy metals and harmful plastic components. Faced with these problems, a group of researchers has worked to develop an energy alternative that mitigates these negative impacts and provides greater energy efficiency.

The result is a battery of air and magnesium which uses water and oxygen to produce electricity. Inspired by how plants breathe, this battery replicates photosynthesis by transforming magnesium into energy through its reaction with oxygen and water. This revolutionary method offers a more sustainable energy option and eliminates the use of harmful materials found in traditional batteries.

The most ‘natural’ and sustainable battery in the world

The work is a collaboration led by AZUL ENERGY (Japan), the professor Hiroshi Yabu from the Advanced Materials Research Institute of Tohoku University and Shinpei Onoresearcher at the Central Research Institute of the Electric Power Industry together with Amphico Ltd (based in London).

Yabu explains that this battery “is based on the way plants breathe.” The process of photosynthesis looks a lot like charge and discharge cycle in batteries. In the same way that plants convert sunlight into sugar using water and CO2, “our battery uses magnesium to create electricity by reacting with water and oxygen.”

The result is an innovative solution for sustainable energy storage: an air-magnesium battery made of paper and activated with water. The choice of paper as the base for the battery is key in its design as it provides several benefits. Its thin and light structure reduces the need to use heavy metals or plastics, making it a perfect alternative for mobile devices and other applications that require portability. Likewise, devices that use paper are easier to dispose of and have a lower environmental impact compared to conventional devices.

Solving the problem of metal-air batteries

Like previous versions of metal-air battery technology, magnesium-air on paper substrates face the problem of insufficient voltage and power level. This limitation has affected its ability to compete with other battery technologies. Additionally, they may suffer from corrosiona reduced duration and slow chemical reactionswhich makes its mass market adoption difficult.

However, this research has successfully developed a battery with notable indicators of efficiency. Using a magnesium sheet bonded to the paper as an anode and adding the cathode catalyst and gas diffusion layer to the back of the paper, they have achieved a simple but effective design.

This innovative design results in a battery that surpasses the previous performance of paper storage. With a voltage of 1.8Va power greater than 100mW/cm² and an energy capacity of 968.2 Wh/kgthis battery offers competitive specifications compared to conventional energy storage systems.

Achieve high levels of efficiency without sacrificing security, while respecting the environment. It uses carbon cathodes and a pigment electrocatalyst that has passed strict tests, ensuring operation free of harmful substances. The sustainability of this battery goes beyond its use and extends to each stage of its life cycle, from its manufacturing to its final disposal, explains Yabu.

The magnesium air battery is not only useful for emergency power systems and mobile devices, it has also been successfully implemented in pulse oximeter sensors and GPS devices. This demonstrates its ability to supply energy to a wide variety of electronic devices, reinforcing its role as an advanced energy storage solution.

Using water and oxygen and the functionality of paper, this technology promises to transform the way we provide energy to our electronic devices, while reducing the deterioration of the environment.