New Delhi: Nature has always been an inspiration for many great scientific research and discoveries. Recently, the scientists of Harvard University again proved that right by inventing a new high-performing organic molecule, inspired by vitamin B2, that can safely store electricity. They had preciously developed a high-capacity flow battery that stored energy in organic molecules called quinones and a food additive called ferrocyanide.
In their latest research, the team found inspiration in vitamin B2, which helps to store energy from food in the body. The key difference between B2 and quinones is that nitrogen atoms, instead of oxygen atoms, are involved in picking up and giving off electrons.
"With only a couple of tweaks to the original B2 molecule, this new group of molecules becomes a good candidate for alkaline flow batteries," said Michael J. Aziz from Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS).
Gordon, co-senior author of the paper, while talking about the recently derived concept said, "They have high stability and solubility and provide high battery voltage and storage capacity. Because vitamins are remarkably easy to make, this molecule could be manufactured on a large scale at a very low cost."
The research is published in Nature Energy.
(With ANI inputs)
