Scientists have developed an innovative way to produce cost-effective and environmentally friendly supercapacitors from chicken fat, recycled materials and common food waste that can store energy and power LEDs.
Energy nanofarms
Carbon nanoguerrillas
Some energy storage materials, such as supercapacitors, can be expensive and harmful for the environment. Making alternative storage options from items that are often thrown away helps solve this problem. According to a study published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, chicken fat can be turned into carbon electrodes for supercapacitors that store energy and power LEDs.
Carbon materials such as graphene are used in the development of supercapacitors due to their efficient charge conductivity and natural origin, but their production is expensive and polluting. Researchers from the American Chemical Society have developed a simple and cost-effective method for converting chicken fat into electrically conductive nanostructures for energy storage in supercapacitors.
Oil soot
Scientists melted chicken fat using a gas torch and burned the molten substance. They then collected soot from the bottom of a flask suspended over the flame. Electron microscopy showed that soot contains homogeneous spherical nanostructures, which are concentric graphite rings. Researchers tested a way to improve the electrical properties of carbon nanoparticles by soaking them in a solution of thiourea, a substance with the smell of fried onions and a molecular structure that resembles a funny fat man.
High-performance electrodes
Assembled into the negative electrode of an asymmetric supercapacitor, carbon nanoparticles from chicken fat demonstrated high capacity, durability, energy density and power. As expected, these performances improved when the electrodes were made from carbon nanoparticles treated with thiourea.
The researchers then showed that the new supercapacitor could operate in real time by charging and connecting two of them to light up red, green and blue LEDs. The results highlight the potential benefits of using food waste such as chicken fat as a carbon source for greener energy.
Glossary
- The American Chemical Society (ACS) is one of the world's leading scientific societies dedicated to research in the field of chemistry .
- Supercapacitor is an electrical capacitor with high capacity and energy density, designed for the accumulation and storage of electrical energy.
- Graphene is a two-dimensional crystalline modification of carbon with unique physical and chemical properties.
- Thiourea is an organic compound used in various industries and scientific research.
References
Answers to questions
What are the disadvantages of traditional energy storage materials such as supercapacitors?
How can we reduce the negative impact on the environment and reduce the cost of producing energy storage devices?
What are the advantages of using chicken fat-derived carbon nanostructures as supercapacitor electrodes?
How did scientists get carbon nanostructures from chicken fat?
How did scientists demonstrate the performance of a new supercapacitor based on carbon nanoparticles from chicken fat?
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Discussion of the topic – Supercapacitors made from chicken fat: an environmentally friendly solution for energy storage
Scientists have found a way to turn chicken fat into highly efficient supercapacitors, which could provide an alternative to traditional energy storage devices, the production of which is often polluting and requires expensive materials.
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Анджей
It's great that scientists are finding new ways to create energy storage devices from waste 💡 We are suffering from a garbage epidemic, and chicken fat is turning into electrodes for supercapacitors. An effective and environmentally friendly solution!
Мэри
I agree, Andrzej! The creative approach of scientists is impressive 👏 Imagine, soot from chicken fat contains carbon nanostructures in the form of spherical graphite lattices. Energy storage materials are made from waste!
Герман
And I thought chicken fat was just bad cholesterol 🍗 It turns out that you can make supercapacitors with high capacity and energy density from it. Wow, progress does not stand still!
Лукаш
Brrr, thiourea stinks of fried onions 🧅 But it improves the electrical properties of carbon nanoparticles. I can imagine how they spied the recipe from the old lady cook 👵🍲
Зигмунд
Ugh, again these newfangled nonsense of yours 😒 Chicken fat, supercapacitors... Everything worked properly for me, but you are always inventing something. Why is this necessary? Pure madness!
Иоланта
Don't grumble, Sigmund 🙃 This achievement of science helps fight the waste problem. Imagine how much chicken fat goes to waste, and now it can be turned into a source of energy! 🔋 Eco-friendly and practical.
Томаш
I'm a master at cooking fried chicken 😋 But now I'll be thinking about throwing the fat at the power plant 😂 Just kidding! It’s great that scientists have found a use for waste, although supercapacitors are not the most understandable topic.
Хильда
It's amazing! 🤩 Researchers have shown how this chicken fat supercapacitor lights up LEDs. It’s inspiring that such useful and environmentally friendly developments can be created from everyday things.