Posted on 07/19/2016 8:44:18 AM PDT by BenLurkin
In the latest version of an organic flow battery—which uses carbon-based organic compounds instead of metal ions to carry charges—scientists have introduced a molecule similar to the core of vitamin B2 to carry energy. Like other flow batteries, this one stores energy in two liquids and generates an electrical current as the liquids flow past each other, trading electrons across a membrane.
Because the liquids can be housed in large tanks, these batteries have the potential to store days’ worth of energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar. The liquids typically use metals, such as vanadium, to shuttle electrons. But these metals tend to be expensive or corrosive.
Organics, whether from petroleum, plants, or other places, are also good electron shuttles. Two years ago, researchers created the first organic flow battery using a compound commonly found in rhubarb.
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencemag.org ...
Personally speaking, I need a battery powered vitamin.
All it is chemistry. However, scientists and engineers tend to improve on nature. Nature has different goals and objectives.
Ditto that!
This has great potential.
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