Scientists at Uppsala University have developed a small paper battery powered by two drops of water. Photo: Uppsala University
Sweden: Around the world, there is an increasing number of devices that are used for a short time or once, and now an environmentally friendly paper battery that dissolves automatically has been developed for them. This will go a long way in reducing the negative impact of batteries and toxic chemicals on the environment.
It will power low-power sensors, smart label products, tracking and medical devices and other electronic components. Thus, the paper battery will react with water and dissolve in a certain time.
Professor Gustaf Nyström, a scientist at Sweden’s famous Uppsala University, and his colleagues have installed a cell on a square centimeter in the battery. A circuit is drawn with three lights (ink) printed on paper. A paper strip is dipped in sodium chloride and one of its short ends is dipped in a special wax.
The light has graphite shavings that form the positive electrode or cathode of the battery. Another type of ink contains a layer of zinc that forms the anode or negative end of the battery.
Carbon black is coated on both sides of the paper which enables the transfer of positive and negative electrons. When a small amount of water is poured on this paper, the charge is released from the paper battery and the battery starts working. Then the electrodes can be connected to any device to provide power to it.
As a practical demonstration, experts have used it to run a liquid crystal display and a small alarm clock. Adding two more drops of water improved the battery and lasted for another 20 seconds. During this time, the battery continued to discharge a steady current of one-tenths two volts. Whereas a normal cell provides 1.5 volts of electricity. But when the paper battery lost power, more water was added to it and it continued to supply power for an hour.
The paper battery automatically dissolves after use.
.
