{"id":175492,"date":"2025-12-09T14:04:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T14:04:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/175492\/"},"modified":"2025-12-09T14:04:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T14:04:09","slug":"blue-jeans-indigo-dye-could-make-future-solid-state-batteries-greener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/175492\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue-jeans indigo dye could make future solid-state batteries greener"},"content":{"rendered":"

The same pigment that gives your favorite denim its iconic hue could soon power electric vehicles and energy storage systems.<\/p>\n

Indigo, the pigment used for centuries, has been repurposed by researchers from Concordia University in Canada, proving it can do far more than just color fabric.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, the dye can be used to perform certain chemical reactions in solid-state batteries.\u00a0It could lead to batteries that hold more energy, cycle more reliably, and perform brilliantly even in the chill of winter.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were excited to see that a natural molecule could guide the battery chemistry instead of disrupting it. Indigo helps the battery operate in a very steady, predictable way. That is important if we want greener materials to play a role in future energy systems,\u201d said Xia Li, the study\u2019s lead author and associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Overcoming organic material limitations<\/p>\n

Solid-state batteries use solid materials rather than liquids for lithium-ion movement, resulting in enhanced safety and greater energy storage capacity.<\/p>\n

Organic materials are key to next-generation batteries (including organic, lithium-ion<\/a>, and solid-state) because they provide major advantages over typical inorganic metals in sustainability, cost, and flexible design.<\/p>\n

However, the main difficulty lies in integrating organic materials, which typically interact poorly with the solid components. Usually, these materials cause instability with excessive interaction.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Contrary to standard practice, this study found that a carefully controlled reaction between indigo and the electrolyte can benefit the battery.<\/p>\n

It stores and releases lithium, simultaneously activating the solid electrolyte to store energy too.<\/p>\n

This unique cooperation between the indigo dye and the solid electrolyte is key to the battery\u2019s performance, enhancing overall capacity beyond the storage potential of either component alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Furthermore, this combination also provides another benefit: stable operation not only at room temperature but also in cold conditions, specifically down to minus ten degrees Celsius.<\/p>\n

Use of natural molecules <\/p>\n

For solid-state batteries based on organic materials, achieving high capacity\u00a0and\u00a0reliability in cold weather is a remarkable and uncommon feat.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur study represents one of the strongest performances reported for this battery type,\u201d said<\/a> Qihang Yu, the first author of the study.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cIt suggests that natural molecules like indigo can help overcome long-standing compatibility challenges and support more accessible and sustainable battery technologies,\u201d Yu added in the press release.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Working mechanism of indigo natural dye as both the active material and the molecular catalyst in sulfide-based ASSBs<\/p>\n

A sustainable, high-performing battery<\/a> is crucial for homes to electrify our commutes today.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Moreover, the use of organic <\/a>materials from easily processed sources can simplify the supply chain, reduce price volatility, and ultimately lower the potential manufacturing costs of batteries.<\/p>\n

The research team\u2019s immediate objective is to transition this promising technology toward real-world use. This involves refining the battery\u2019s internal reactions to maintain stability while storing more energy within a compact volume.<\/p>\n

Successfully optimizing the battery\u2019s energy density is the final step that will bridge the gap, bringing these highly sustainable, organic-based solid-state batteries much closer to practical, commercial application.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The same pigment that gives your favorite denim its iconic hue could soon power electric vehicles and energy…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":175493,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[6081,112646,600,41152,2308,5442,111,139,69,112647,3694,145],"class_list":{"0":"post-175492","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-technology","8":"tag-battery","9":"tag-blue-dye","10":"tag-energy-amp-environment","11":"tag-energy-storage","12":"tag-ev-batteries","13":"tag-indigo","14":"tag-new-zealand","15":"tag-newzealand","16":"tag-nz","17":"tag-solid-state-batteries","18":"tag-sustainability","19":"tag-technology"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175492","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=175492"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175492\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/175493"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=175492"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=175492"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=175492"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}