Submission + - Tofu brine could power safer batteries that last decades (techspot.com) 1
fahrbot-bot writes: TechSpot reports that a mixture most people associate with tofu production could soon help make safer, longer-lasting batteries. Researchers from the City University of Hong Kong and Southern University of Science and Technology have built a water-based power cell that runs on tofu brine – the mineral-rich solution left behind after pressing soy curds.
The design replaces the complex, flammable chemistry of lithium-ion batteries with an electrolyte that's as safe as saltwater. In lab tests, the prototype endured more than 120,000 charge cycles, an endurance record that far exceeds today's commercial standards. Typical electric-vehicle batteries degrade after just a few thousand cycles – even long-duration grid systems seldom survive beyond ten thousand.
In conventional designs, water decomposes at higher voltages, creating instability that shortens battery life. The tofu-brine solution suppresses that reaction, allowing energy to flow repeatedly without corroding the battery's internal materials.
The result is a cell that is neither flammable nor caustic – a stark contrast to lithium-ion counterparts known for fire hazards when damaged or overheated. Because the tofu-brine system uses benign ingredients, it could simplify end-of-life handling and lessen environmental damage from discarded batteries.
Study published in Nature Communications: An aqueous battery using an electrolyte with a pH of 7 and suitable for direct environmental discard
The design replaces the complex, flammable chemistry of lithium-ion batteries with an electrolyte that's as safe as saltwater. In lab tests, the prototype endured more than 120,000 charge cycles, an endurance record that far exceeds today's commercial standards. Typical electric-vehicle batteries degrade after just a few thousand cycles – even long-duration grid systems seldom survive beyond ten thousand.
In conventional designs, water decomposes at higher voltages, creating instability that shortens battery life. The tofu-brine solution suppresses that reaction, allowing energy to flow repeatedly without corroding the battery's internal materials.
The result is a cell that is neither flammable nor caustic – a stark contrast to lithium-ion counterparts known for fire hazards when damaged or overheated. Because the tofu-brine system uses benign ingredients, it could simplify end-of-life handling and lessen environmental damage from discarded batteries.
Study published in Nature Communications: An aqueous battery using an electrolyte with a pH of 7 and suitable for direct environmental discard
