Convert harmful algae into Na-ion battery electrodes
http://alternativeenergy.electronicspecifier.com/around-the-industry/convert-harmful-algae-into-na-ion-battery-electrodes
Written by : Nat Bowers
"A team of researchers, led by Dr. Da Deng, assistant professor of chemical engineering and materials science at Wayne State University, has found that baking algae in a furnace with argon gas at temperatures of 700-1000°C could convert it into a material called 'hard carbon'. This hard carbon can be used as high-capacity, low-cost electrodes for Na-ion batteries."
"During his commute to work in the summer of 2014, Deng heard several news reports about the harmful algal bloom that poisoned Toledo’s water system and left almost 500,000 people without drinking water. During one of those drives, Deng - who was trained as an environmental engineer - started daydreaming about turning the algae from trash into treasure."