If you develop battery technology, the Mattress Recycling Council (MRC), together with RoCo®, is looking for battery researchers and manufacturers interested in decreasing their carbon footprint in energy storage devices and incorporating state-of-the-art electrolytes and battery salts.
A Sustainable Solution for High-Performance Batteries
In the quest for sustainable and efficient energy storage solutions, recent research led by Dr. Ram Gupta at Pittsburg State University’s National Institute for Materials Advancement (NIMA) funded by MRC has demonstrated that carbon derived from recycled mattress components serves as an excellent feedstock for battery and supercapacitor electrodes. This is a promising alternative to traditional graphite, which has a high carbon footprint.
Innovative Carbon Production Process
The process involves carbonizing mattress foam at temperatures below 900°C, significantly lower than the 3000°C typically required for graphite production. This innovative process recycles mattress foam into a high-performance,high-surface-area electrode material. The carbon derived from this process yields carbon with excellent energy storage and retention properties. The work carried out at NIMA has shown that carbon is comparable in performance to conventional materials, making it a viable and eco-friendly alternative.
Electrochemical Stability and Efficiency
The research highlights the electrochemical stability of devices made from recycled mattress materials. Tested devices show stability up to 10,000 charge-discharge cycles and nearly 100% Coulombic efficiency. The use of different electrolytes, including aqueous and organic, has further enhanced the performance of these devices.
Applications in Li-S Batteries
One of the most significant advancements from this research is the development of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries using carbon derived from recycled mattressmaterials. Li-S batteries offer a theoretical specific energy of around 2600 Wh/kg, five times higher than conventional Li-ion batteries. The carbon-based materials help mitigate common issues such as the shuttling effect and volume expansion, enhancing the overall performance and stability of Li-S batteries.