Silly Putty Inspires Longer-Lasting and More Powerful Batteries

Silly Putty isn't just for kids. Using material found in Silly Putt and surgical tubing, scientists have created a new way to make lithium-ion batteries that last three times longer between charges than current industry standard batteries. This could mean a better way to power electronics in the future-assuming that the batteries becoming commercially viable.

"We are taking the same material used in kids' toys and medical devices and even fast food and using it to create next generation battery materials," said Zachary Favors, one of the researchers, in a news release.

The researchers focused on silicon dioxide as a material-mostly because it's an extremely abundant compound, environmentally friend, non-toxic and found in many other process. Previously, silicon dioxide has been used as an anode material in lithium ion batteries. But the ability to synthesize material into exotic nanostructures with high energy density and long cycle life has been fairly limited.

The real secret behind this new battery are the nanotubes. Silicon dioxide nanotubes are extremely stable in batteries, which makes for a much longer lifespan. In fact, the scientists found that SiO2 nanotube anodes could be recycled 100 times without any loss in energy storage capability. Not only that, but the new batteries had over three times as much energy storage capacity as the carbon-based anodes currently being used.

The findings are a huge step forward for the electronics industries, and could mean a better way to power electric cars. Currently, the researchers are planning on developing methods to scale up production of the SiO2 nanotubes in order to make them a commercially viable product. This could mean a new way for industries to create longer-lasting and more powerful batteries in the future.  Who knew that the material in Silly Putty could be so useful?

The findings are published in the journal Scientific Reports.