Wood Nanobattery Could Be Green Option For Large-Scale Energy Storage 120
cylonlover writes "Li-ion batteries may be ok for your smartphone, but when it comes to large-scale energy storage, the priorities suddenly shift from compactness and cycling performance (at which Li-ion batteries excel) to low cost and environmental feasibility (in which Li-ion batteries still have much room for improvement). A new 'wood battery' could allow the emerging sodium-ion battery technology to fit the bill as a long-lasting, efficient and environmentally friendly battery for large-scale energy storage."
Salt is NOT benign (Score:4, Interesting)
Just ask the Romans [wikipedia.org] how environmentally friendly sodium is. The citizens of Carthage would be able to tell you, if they were not all killed.
Re:It really is too bad (Score:4, Interesting)
This "wood battery" is an interesting concept, but this problem has already been solved by a team at MIT. They've been developing the technology over the last several years, and are now in the process of commercializing it. The first "commercial" prototypes are expected early next year. The details are in this video lecture [youtube.com] by the inventor, Donald Sadoway.
This technology has great potential to revolutionize the way we produce and use energy. Worth a look...