Researchers at Uppsala University in Sweden have designed a battery that exploits the unique cellulose structure of the Cladophora algae, which is characterized by a very large surface area.
By coating this structure with an extremely thin layer of conducting polymer, the team produced a battery that weighs very little and can be fully charged in as little as 11.3 seconds. The battery has been able to retain its charge after 1,000 charging cycles.
According to Professor Maria Strømme, who led the research team, "We are talking about a battery that mainly consists of paper and salt water and that can theoretically be made in your own kitchen (if you have a strong mixer) without the major energy input needed to create today’s batteries".
The battery has a storage capacity of 25 watt-hours per kilogram which is relativley low compared to current lithium ion batteries which can store 100 to 160 watt-hours per kilogram.
