World’s first #sustainable #battery lasts 6,000 cycles, could offer 30-year life

The batteries transport electrons using three physical processes, thanks to an ultraporous carbon layer inside the cell.

by Georgina Jedikovska, Updated: Apr 11, 2025 11:02 AM EST

"#Ukrainian startup #SorbiForce has made a major breakthrough by transforming agricultural waste into a metal-free organic battery prototype in an attempt to combat the environmental impact of conventional batteries.

"Apart from #AgriculturalWaste, the Arizona-based energy storage company claims they used nothing but carbon, water, and salt to develop what they say is the world’s first truly sustainable battery.

"The team, led by material scientist Serhii Kaminskyi, SorbiForce’s CEO and co-founder, came up with the idea after realizing agriculture generates up to 2.1 billion tons of waste each year.

[...]

"However, what’s perhaps most striking is that at the end of a cell’s life, as much as 95 percent of the battery can be broken down into organic materials, while the rest of the components can later be reused.

"Additionally, Drolet remarks that, unlike #LithiumIon (Li-ion) batteries, which often become #toxic plastic waste or pose safety hazards when recycled, SorbiForce cells pose no risk of explosion, thermal runaway or toxic leaks thanks to their metal-free chemistry and #ClosedLoop design, even if cut in half."

Read more:
https://interestingengineering.com/energy/world-first-metal-free-battery-6000-cycles

#SolarPunkSunday #RenewblesNow #NoLithiumMining

World-first metal-free battery made from agri waste lasts 6,000 cycles

SorbiForce has developed a safe, sustainable battery using nothing but carbon, water, salt, and agricultural waste.

Interesting Engineering
@DoomsdaysCW So interesting in light of the minerals deal - could be that those minerals will be of no use soon once these batteries are online
@aliza Well, I'm sure the minerals will be needed for a transition period. I just hope they are mined less destructively.

@DoomsdaysCW @aliza When a Tesla's done burning, almost all the cobalt and lithium are still present in the remains of the batteries. The elements are just in different chemical form than before and should be able to be refined again.

Same as a pile of rust where a car was once abandoned in the woods is in fact high grade iron ore.

@DoomsdaysCW I mean sure? but it will be a long time before they can even start mining in ukraine with this deal - I was just thinking that this is a Ukrainian company (seated in the states as it is) that is making all those rare earth metals less necessary - just a little bit of irony