“Just add water!” And power!
This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science.
No, I’m not talking about Hamburger Helper. We’re looking at batteries: they power everything, but create mountains of waste. Can we invent one that’s green and simple?
Enter Gustav Nyström and colleagues from Switzerland.
They printed a tiny paper battery that wakes up with water. Inside are zinc – found in sunscreen – and graphite – like in pencils!
A splash triggers a chemical reaction that powers small gadgets, such as an alarm clock. When dry, it stops working and safely biodegrades. This is power on demand, without pollution or guilt!
A single drop could spark a greener world. A landburger helper, if you will.
Reference: Kaltenbrunner, M., Nyström, G., Poulin, A., & Zhu, X. (2022). Water-activated disposable paper battery. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 12109. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-15900-5