Scientists want to use a chemical found in crab shells to make batteries more sustainable.
Based in Maryland USA, scientists have developed batteries that use a product derived from crustacean shells to store energy.
Crustaceans such as crabs, shrimps and lobsters have exoskeletons made of cells that contain chitin. This is a kind of polysaccharide that makes their shells hard and resistant.
The scientists found that a battery made with this product is 99.7% energy efficient even after 1,000 battery cycles, which is about 400 hours.
This means they can be quickly charged and discharged without significantly affecting their performance.
Finally, the batteries are not flammable and the two-thirds of the battery made of chitosan can break down in soil thanks to microbial degradation in just five months, leaving behind recyclable zinc.
