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Scientists at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST MISIS) in Russia have claimed to develop a technology that can convert medical waste (including disposable masks) into flexible, cost-effective batteries with the help of graphene technology.
The global population has been using more than 130 billion masks every month during the COVID-19 pandemic. When these masks are discarded, they create hundreds of tons of polymer waste. These wastes are difficult to recycle and emit toxic chemicals if burned. To solve the problem, a team of researchers from the Russian National University of Science and Technology 'MISIS' (NUST MISIS) has developed a new technology to convert discarded masks into batteries for use in household devices. Waste drug packaging is also used as a battery casing, and graphene is the only new material that needs to be sourced for the process. Batteries store energy well and are cheaper to produce than their conventional metal-clad counterparts.
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Turning old masks into efficient batteries with the help of graphene
To recycle the masks, the team disinfected them using ultrasound and dipped them in ink made from graphene. The masks were then compressed and heated to 284°F (140°C) to form pellets that would function as the battery's electrodes. These pellets are separated by an insulating layer which is also made from used masks.
The final step is to soak the whole thing in an electrolyte and wrap it in wrappers made from waste packaging. In this way, medical waste created the basis for batteries, just finishing with graphene.
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Expert explains the battery production process with disposable masks
To explain the process, Professor Anvar Zakhidov, scientific director of the infrastructure project “High-performance, flexible and hybrid perovskite-based photovoltaic devices” at NUST MISiS, said: “To create a supercapacitor-type battery, the following algorithm is used : first the masks are disinfected with ultrasound, then dipped in 'ink' made of graphene, which saturates the mask, at a temperature of 1000-1300°C, while the new technology reduces energy consumption by a factor of 10. One separator (also made of masking material) with insulating properties is then placed between the two electrodes made of the new material. It is saturated with a special electrolyte, and then a protective shell is created from the material in medical blisters (such as paracetamol).”
Efficient batteries recycle disposable masks and make good use of graphene
While the process is inspiring in itself, the team found batteries using graphene and discarded masks to be quite effective. The researchers claim they achieved an energy density of 99,7 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg). This value approximates the energy density of the lithium-ion battery, which varies between 100 and 265 Wh/kg.
According to the article, the researchers improved the battery by adding nanoparticles of a cobalt-calcium oxide perovskite to the electrodes. This increased the energy density by over 100%, bringing it to 208 Wh/kg. The best performing version of the battery retained 82% of its capacity after 1.500 cycles, and can supply power for over 10 hours at a voltage of up to 0,54V.
The new method could pave the way for producing batteries that are superior in many ways to heavier, metal-clad conventional batteries that require more manufacturing costs. The thin, flexible, low-cost batteries are also disposable and could be used in home appliances from watches to light bulbs in the future.
