Viral structure design used to improve batteries

Early 2013, scientists at the MIT have developed a new efficient candidate electrode for rechargeable lithium-oxygen batteries, which could potentially change the future of batteries and decrease their overall cost. Li-O2 batteries have been gaining popularity over the years for its high specific energy densities, meaning they can store a relatively large amount of power. During use, the battery undergoes a chemical reaction involving Li+ reacting with oxygen to produce Li2O2 and an electrical current. Then, the batteries can be easily recharged and used again. To recharge, the inverse reaction operates, converting Li2O2 back to Li+ ions. The convenience of Li-O2 batteries has spawned great acceptance of rechargeable batteries all around.

However, as powerful as they are, rechargeable Li-O2 batteries are not the most efficient. Li2O2 is not very soluble and may build up over time. This not only leads to clogging, but also tends to reduce the concentration of Li2O2 available for the reactions. Therefore, after some life cycles, these batteries die.

To combat the limitation, researchers at MIT synthesized catalysts to improve efficiency. One of the concerns they had looked out for was ensuring that gaseous oxygen could flow through the battery to participate in the reaction. Thus, an electrode with a porous nanostructure was created by biotemplating an M13 virus. The structure was designed with manganese oxide nanowires and littered with palladium catalysts.

Testing the new electrode revealed impressive results. Not only did battery life increased to fifty cycles, the capacity also increased. Reusable batteries with longer life and larger capacity mean that the public will not need as many batteries to power their portables. The implementations of this advancement will result in less resources wasted to construct batteries.

In addition, efficient rechargeable batteries imply a greener environment. With fewer batteries necessary to power an appliance, fewer dead batteries will be tossed out. The chemicals in a battery are toxic to the environment, and are currently trashed separately than normal garbage to minimize harm. But once the new electrodes are in use, battery waste will decline and concern over battery leakage will diminish.

Revolutionizing how batteries are used and helping to save the world’s environment, the new  nanowire electrode will pave the road for subsequent designs of efficient rechargeable batteries.