Scientists frae Scotland, Sooth Korea, an India hiv uised waste gum fra Indian trees tae forge a greener peth for supercapacitors. Dey’v combined gum kondagogu—a polysaccharide frae da bark o da Cochlospermum Gossypium tree—wi sodium alginate tae form a spoonge-like substance kent as “KS.” Dis new biopolymer is added tae da acidic electrolyte fund in staundart supercapacitors, giein da electrodes a protective layer dat slaas deir decay.

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

Da research micht widen da life span o supercapacitors an trim da growin burden o electronic waste. At da eyn o deir rinnin life, worn-oot supercapacitors add tae a lang list o hairmfu waste dat affects da land an watter. Dis new method maks it possible tae uise a byproduct aince deemed a nuisance.

Dr Jun Young Cheong o da 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. Hooivver, da gums we’v uised in dis study dinna hae mony practical uises, an are actually a bit o a heidache for da Indian government tae dispose o. Wi dis research, we’v fund a wey o makin somethin genuinely impactfu frae dis gum, creatin a biodegradable, recyclable biopolymer dat enables remairkable performance an cuid extend da uisefu life o supercapacitors dramatically. In da lab, we’v shawn excellent performance ower 30,000 cycles. If we wir tae rin wan cycle per day, da supercapacitor cuid theoretically last mair dan 80 year wioot tynin significant performance, whit cuid mean dat supercapacitors cuid be uised in devices for muckle langer wioot bein replaced.”