Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : New paper batteries biodegrade in six weeks, offers safer energy storage

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

With a production cost at just 10% of lithium-ion batteries, Flint’s innovation aims for global scalability.

Flint, a Singapore-based company specializing in the development of sustainable energy solutions, is making waves in the world of battery technology with its cutting-edge paper batteries.

These batteries promise to deliver impressive advantages over traditional energy storage options, thanks to their flexibility, lightweight design, safety, and eco-friendly features. 

At CES 2025, Flint introduced this pioneering technology, which has the potential to change the way we store and use energy.

What makes paper batteries unique?

Flint’s paper batteries are a type of quasi-solid battery, utilizing an innovative hydrogel ring that acts as both a separator and an electrolyte within a piece of paper. This setup differentiates it from conventional lithium-ion batteries by replacing toxic and geopolitically sensitive materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, with safe and sustainable alternatives such as zinc and manganese.

According to a representative from the company, “Our battery has the unique ability to be lightweight, flexible, and adaptable in shape, offering not just safety but also a significantly lower cost than traditional lithium-ion options.”

The hydrogel-based design also contributes to the battery’s ability to biodegrade completely within six weeks when buried in soil, leaving no harmful residues behind. 

This characteristic makes paper batteries a more sustainable option compared to conventional batteries, which can take decades to degrade and pose significant environmental risks.

Durability and safety features

When asked about the safety and durability of paper batteries, Flint’s spokesperson highlighted how their technology excels in real-world conditions. 

Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries, which can pose a risk of leaking, burning, or even exploding under extreme conditions, paper batteries have been rigorously tested to withstand burning, cutting, piercing, and bending. These tests confirm the battery’s ability to function safely, even under harsh physical stress.

Flint’s paper battery has passed numerous safety benchmarks, making it one of the safest battery technologies on the market. “Our battery is engineered to endure much harsher conditions without any adverse effects,” said the spokesperson. “This is a crucial advantage, especially when compared to conventional batteries, which can be hazardous if damaged.”

Energy output, scalability, and environmental benefits

In terms of energy output, paper batteries offer a capacity of 600 milliampere hours per unit, which is enough for a variety of consumer and industrial applications. While this is currently lower than lithium-ion batteries, Flint is working on improving performance to meet the demands of more power-intensive devices. The paper batteries are also scalable, and the company plans to begin mass production with a pilot facility in Singapore later this year.

Furthermore, the environmental impact of paper batteries is minimal. The use of readily available, non-toxic materials such as zinc and manganese ensures that the battery has a minimal impact on both human health and the environment.

In response to questions about the environmental costs of production, the representative explained that the company avoids materials that are often associated with geopolitical conflicts, making paper batteries a more stable and eco-friendly alternative.

The biodegradability of the paper batteries also sets them apart from many other emerging technologies. When buried in soil, the battery decomposes within six weeks, releasing no toxic chemicals. This feature offers a clear advantage over traditional batteries, which can leach harmful substances like cadmium or lead into the environment.

A game changer for various industries

Flint is focused on making paper batteries adaptable for a wide range of industries, with plans to target sectors that require versatile and safe energy storage solutions. The company believes that its batteries could be used across everything from consumer electronics to industrial applications.

“We’re not limited by industry. Our battery can be customized to fit any sector that needs energy storage,” said the spokesperson.

This adaptability, coupled with the company’s focus on cost-efficiency, makes paper batteries an attractive alternative to more conventional technologies. While current production costs are around 10% of those for lithium-ion batteries, they are actively working on scaling up production to reduce costs further and increase the availability of their innovative batteries.

Flint has also recently raised US$2 million in seed funding, which will help accelerate the company’s efforts to bring paper batteries to market. “This funding milestone represents years of technical breakthroughs, and now, with real-world applications on the horizon, we are laser-focused on delivering our solutions to market,” said Carlo Charles, Founder and CEO of Flint.

The company’s ambitious expansion plans include the establishment of a pilot production facility in Singapore, with future facilities slated for China, India, the US, and Vietnam. By the end of the year, it aims to have the first commercial-scale paper batteries rolling off production lines, further solidifying its place in the battery innovation space.

source: Interesting Engineering/Flint