Beyond today’s batteries
This exercise is a part of Educator Guide: Charging the Future / View Guide
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Search for an article discussing unusual materials that might be used to make batteries. Explain how the material could be beneficial in a battery. Possible student response:
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/idea-new-battery-material-isn’t-nuts. In 2015, an article discussed the use of packing material peanuts to enhance the charging and discharging performance of a lithium-ion battery. Carbon-containing packing peanuts were baked and compressed into microsheets, which were then placed into the battery’s anode. - Find an article that discusses the revamping of an early battery technology. Explain it. Possible student response: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/old-battery-gets-high-tech-makeover. This 2012 article discusses the redesign of Edison’s nickel-iron battery, which was originally patented in 1901.
- Find an article that talks about alternatives to batteries for powering personal electronic devices. Describe what you find. Possible student response: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/double-charging-material-makes-run-sun-extra-powerful. This 2016 article discusses a lightweight material that can capture and store solar as well as mechanical energy in a supercapacitor to power personal electronic devices.