29/01/2024
Although rechargeable batteries are favored for their sustainability for now, Gao says expanding the life of primary batteries may also make them sustainable contenders. In other words, fewer batteries will have to be used in pacemakers as their lifespans increase, decreasing overall battery waste in addition to reducing the number of battery replacement surgeries needed.
The researchers are hoping to have a more advanced prototype within one to two years, and they don’t anticipate that the cost for these batteries should be much higher than their current prices. But in the meantime, they hope their work emphasizes the need for more renewed interest in the relatively stagnant world of primary battery research.