Graphite plays an essential role in many modern batteries. Manufacturers often use it in the negative electrode, where the graphite stores ions while the battery charges. Then it releases them as the battery discharges again. We’ll get to battery-grade graphite from plastic in a moment. But first …
Where Do Battery-Makers Get Their Graphite?
Graphite comes from two primary sources. The first of these is natural graphite which formed deep underground over millions of years. Mining companies extract this graphite from open-pit or underground mines. Major sources include China, Mozambique, Madagascar, Brazil, and Canada.
The second source is synthetic graphite. Manufacturers make it from petroleum coke, a carbon-rich material produced during oil refining. They heat this material to extremely high temperatures until it develops a graphite-like structure.
Why Do We Need Battery-Grade Graphite?
Battery manufacturers choose graphite because it stores large quantities of ions, copes with many charge and discharge cycles, and remains relatively affordable.
Demand for both natural and synthetic graphite continues to increase around the world, as demand for electric vehicles and energy storage systems soars. Hence our interest in forming battery-grade graphite from discarded plastic bottles.
Creating Battery-Grade Graphite From Plastic
They make the plastic bottles that end up in waste, from PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate). Researchers at Pennsylvania State University have successfully converted this into ‘highly-ordered synthetic graphite.
This definition indicates a highly-organized crystal structure, that even exceeds that of natural graphite. And betters battery manufacturing standards too.
One Solution For Two Enduring Problems
We don’t believe we should keep on endlessly hacking our raw materials out of the Earth. It is socially irresponsible and no supply is open-ended. We also ought not to keep on endlessly throwing our empty plastic bottles on the tip.
Get This Battery-Grade Graphite to Market Soon
Creating battery-grade graphite from scrap plastic bottles is a step in the right direction, towards solving both those problem. We salute Pennsylvania State University for their initiative. Let’s get it to market soon!
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