Scientists fae Scotland, Sooth Korea, an India hiv yaised waste gum fae Indian trees tae forge a greener peth for supercapacitors. They’v combined gum kondagogu—a polysaccharide fae the bark o the Cochlospermum Gossypium tree—wi sodium alginate tae form a spoonge-like substance kent as “KS.” This new biopolymer is added tae the acidic electrolyte fund in staundart supercapacitors, giein the electrodes a protective layer that slaws their decay.

Supercapacitors are prized for their fast chairge an dischairge rates in iveryday gadgets, pouer grids, an electric cars. Yet, they aften tyne their fu chairge-haudin ability for the reason that the acidic electrolytes stir unwaanted reactions wi the metal electrodes. In lab tests, the added KS layer helped a supercapacitor haud on tae 93% o its original energy ower 30,000 cycles. In contrast, a similar unit wioot the KS drapped tae 58% ower the same period.

The research micht widen the life span o supercapacitors an trim the growin burden o electronic waste. At the eyn o their rinnin life, worn-oot supercapacitors add tae a lang list o hairmfu waste that affects the land an watter. This new method maks it possible tae re-yaise a byproduct aince deemed a nuisance.

Dr Jun Young Cheong o the University o Glesga’s James Watt School o Engineerin said, “Tree gums hae a wide range o uises in industry, in applications like pharmaceuticals, fuid, or cosmetics. Hooanivver, the gums we’v yaised in this study dinnae hae mony practical yaises, an are actually a bit o a sair heid for the Indian government tae dispose o. Wi this research, we’v fund a wey o makkin somethin genuinely impactfu fae this gum, creatin a biodegradable, recyclable biopolymer that enables remairkable performance an cuid extend the yaisefu life o supercapacitors dramatically. In the lab, we’v shawn excellent performance ower 30,000 cycles. If we wur tae rin ae cycle per day, the supercapacitor cuid theoretically last mair than 80 year wioot losin significant performance, whit cuid mean that supercapacitors cuid be yaised in devices for muckle langer wioot bein replaced.”