Lobster, crab shells can be used as batteries

Lobster, crab shells can be used as batteries

MAYBE many people have never thought that the shells of marine life such as crabs and lobsters that are often thrown away can be made into something very useful for humans.

Recently, scientists from the University of Maryland in the United States discovered something amazing through their research on sea creatures that belong to the crustacean group .

The research known as ‘ A sustainable chitosan-zinc electrolyte for high-rate zinc-metal batteries’ led by Professor Liangbing Hu found that ‘chitin’ particle cells found in hard-skinned creatures can store energy and can be innovated as durable batteries as well as sustainable.

“We think about the biodegradation of the material or its impact on the environment, the ability of the battery is important in a product, which may be commercialized.

“Batteries used through this creation technology must be environmentally friendly as the world moves towards green energy solutions and the use of electric cars today,” he said citing The Guardian article report.

He explained that batteries that are commonly used today are made of lithium-ion and other compounds that take a long time to be disposed of, in addition to being composed of materials that can be corrosive and flammable.

“Crustacean shells like those of crabs and lobsters are made of cells that contain chitin.

” Chitin is a type of carbohydrate that makes the shells of these creatures hard and strong.

“Restaurant waste often contains this substance, which is also spread naturally through the reproduction of fungi and insects,” said Hu again.

Commenting on the prototype battery product created by the research group, according to him, after going through several phases of chemical processing with an aqueous acetic acid solution , citin is then synthesized into a membrane gel to be used as an electrolyte battery.

The electrolyte liquid found in the battery helps charge the ion molecules from end to end of the battery.

“This chitosan electrolyte is then mixed with zinc to make the battery safe and cheap,” he added.

According to him, previous studies on chitin also found that the chemical cell has a role in the field of biomedicine which acts as a wound dressing and anti-inflammatory therapy.

source – Nickyson Nyambar

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