Mushrooms could be the key to powering smartphones in the future, according to scientists at the University of California, Riverside Bourns College of Engineering. They’ve created a new type of lithium-ion battery anode which could potentially replace the existing ones made out of graphite.
The findings have been published in the Scientific Reports journal. The researchers believe portobello mushrooms have the necessary biomass, biological material from living or dead organisms, to replace graphite as they possess high carbon content. It’s also cheaper and more environmentally friendly than the synthetic material.
The UC Riverside engineers used mushrooms because previous studies have recognized that they are very porous, which means it contains several small spaces for liquid or air to pass through. This is an important factor for batteries, as it produces more space for the storing and transferring of energy.
Furthermore, the high levels of potassium salt activate more pores over time, meaning the mushroom carbon anode technology could increase the capacity of the battery. As a result, future handsets might see a rise in their run cycle after many uses, rather than a decrease.
Current lithium ion batteries utilize most of the material during the first few phases. Electrode damage reduces its capacity as time goes on. The report predicts roughly 900000 tons of natural raw graphite could be required for almost 6 million electric vehicles by the year 2020.
The material would have to be treated with harsh chemicals such as hydrofluoric and sulfuric acids. The process creates large amounts of harmful waste. The European Union believes this system will become unsustainable in the coming years. The researchers think mushrooms could eventually be seen as the green and sustainable alternative to graphite.