Florencia Jerez, a prominent Argentine researcher, captured the attention of the scientific community and the general public with a truly groundbreaking achievement: the creation a new generation of ecological batteries made from used yerba de mate. This groundbreaking achievement is the result of a project he started in collaboration with his team in 2019 to use the properties of mate to store energy.
The process behind these batteries is fascinating and sustainable.. First, used mate is collected from the waste generated by the yerba industry, which is an abundant and cheap source of raw materials.
This material is then subjected to an activation process that turns it into high quality activated carbon. Finally, activated carbon is used to make the necessary electrodes for battery operation.
The key to this success is the richness of the tannins contained in the mat, which are ideal for the production of activated charcoal.. The resulting material has an exceptional ability to efficiently and sustainably store large amounts of energy.
The advantages of these mate-based batteries over traditional batteries are significant. First of all, its production is very sustainable as it uses organic waste that would otherwise be thrown away..
In addition, these batteries have a significantly longer service life, which reduces the need for frequent replacement. And to top it off, they are cheaper to manufacture, which can have a positive impact on the affordability of energy storage technologies.
The work of Florencia Jerez and her team does not end there. Currently, they are working to further improve the efficiency of these batteries and explore the possibility of their application in various devices, including electric vehicles.
“We saw that in other countries, plant residues are being processed to produce activated carbon, and we decided to try mate,” he said..
His pioneering vision and commitment to sustainability promise a bright future for this exciting yerba mate battery technology.
This new type of mate-based battery could be an extremely interesting solution in the future if it manages to achieve a level of energy storage comparable to that offered by other materials. less friendly to the environment. The prospect of creating a technology that combines energy efficiency and environmental sustainability is an ambitious but much-needed goal in a world where energy demand continues to rise.
Source: La Opinion
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.