Battery technologies are improving rapidly, and so is the search for batteries with lower environmental impacts. New lithium batteries developed for use in electric cars, for example, have a longer life and are up to 90 percent recyclable.
The number of wearables is increasing, requiring energy storage to operate, and adding to the growing e-waste problem.
Researchers have now developed a degradable micro-capacitor that can store electricity for hours. The capacitor is made of environmentally friendly materials based on cellulose and carbon and is produced by a 3D printer. When commercialized, these capacitors could help significantly to reduce e-waste from smart devices.