Research Projects

The demand for primary batteries, such as zinc-carbon and alkaline batteries, is increasing due to the widespread use of electronic products. Alkaline batteries are easy to manufacture and safe to carry, but their consumption is high compared to other batteries, increasing by 5-6% annually. Insecure disposal of spent batteries leads to environmental problems, as they contain recyclable metals and metal oxide. Recycling these batteries can help control landfills and protect soil fertility. One potential energy storage device is an electrochemical capacitor or supercapacitor, which can replace batteries in various devices due to their high-power density, comparable energy density, long cyclic stability, and reliability. Hybrid supercapacitor electrode materials are fabricated using large surface area carbon nanomaterials and metal oxide or conducting polymer. The metal envelope in spent batteries can also be recycled as an effective substrate for supercapacitors. The present project plans to utilize the electro-materials and metal case of spent primary batteries for energy storage devices. Desalination of brackish and sea water is another alternative way to access fresh water for the growing population. Capacitive deionization is an emerging and cost-effective process for purifying seawater based on an electrochemical capacitor mechanism. The electroactive materials recovered from spent alkaline batteries are viable for developing capacitive deionization electrodes. The second part of the project focuses on developing a capacitive deionization unit using the best-performing supercapacitor electrode obtained from spent primary batteries.