Can portabella mushrooms stop cell phone batteries from degrading over time? Researchers at the University of California, RiversideBourns College of Engineering think so.According to their research, “they have created a new type of lithium-ion battery anode using portabella mushrooms, which are inexpensive, environmentally friendly and easy to produce. The current industry standard for rechargeable lithium-ion battery anodes is synthetic graphite, which comes with a high cost of manufacturing because it requires tedious purification and preparation processes that are also harmful to the environment. [1]
UC Riverside engineers were drawn to using mushrooms because they are porous. This allows for liquid or air to pass through. The high potassium salt concentration also allows for increased electrolyte-active material increasing its capacity.
This is obviously a complex finding, which you can read about in more detail here: https://ucrtoday.ucr.edu/31442. What is exciting is looking at how nature (and food!) can be a useful tool in enhancing our man-made technology. How’s that for a friendly fungus?!?!!??
[1] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150929142522.htm