Building Lithium-Sulfur Batteries with Paper Biomass

摘要

A major byproduct in the papermaking industry is lignosulfonate, a sulfonated carbon waste material, which is typically combusted on site, releasing C02 into the atmosphere after sulfur has been captured for reuse. Now researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, have developed a method to use this cheap and abundant paper biomass to build a rechargeable lithium-sulfur battery. Such a battery could be used to power big data centers as well as provide a cheaper energy-storage option for microgrids and the traditional electric grid.