Using Cotton Textile Waste for Flexible Storage

Scientists from six notable Chinese institutions have drawn threads together from 80 other publications and taken a step forward. They have demonstrated a new zinc anode using cotton textile waste. This is an example of recycling at its finest. Find a new use for garbage and give it an even better second life.

Making a Wearable Battery Using Cotton Textile Waste

The team chose textile waste for their flexible electrode to reduce cost and tackle a recycling challenge. Accordingly, they developed a rechargeable, flexible zinc-air battery using metalized cotton textile waste as flexible substrate for anode and cathode.

Their zinc battery demonstrates outstanding cycling flexibility, and a good rate of performance under severe deformation. Therefore, this makes it a candidate for flexible wearables and smartphones, and who knows, folding computers too. However, we are still a way off from using cotton textile waste for electrodes under open market conditions.

The Current Market for Commercial Zinc-Air Batteries

Two varieties of commercial zinc-air devices have already found their way to market. Small non-rechargeable zinc-air cells have replaced mercury batteries in hearing aids and cameras. Whereas larger, mechanically rechargeable ones may have applications in electric vehicles, and grid storage.

Zinc-air storage technology is attractive because it has high density and is relatively inexpensive to produce. Rechargeable versions are a bridge between batteries and fuel cells. That’s because the zinc is the fuel, and varying the airflow controls the reaction rate. Moreover, fresh oxidized zinc / electrolyte paste can replace consumed material and so extend the life of the cell.

Using cotton textile waste as flexible electrode substrate in zinc-air batteries thus opens new applications in wearables, and medical technology. A small step along the road perhaps, although some small acorns do grow into large oak trees.