Chinese study finds hotpot ingredient can boost battery performance in the cold


Konjac glucomannan is a type of dietary fibre derived from the underground stem of the konjac plant, which is known for its culinary applications. -- Photo: Shutterstock/SCMP

BEIJING (SCMP): Chinese scientists have found fibre from the konjac plant – an ingredient in noodles and jelly added to hotpot – can improve the performance of water-based zinc batteries in low temperatures by keeping their components from freezing.

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries, still largely in development, are a promising alternative to lithium batteries because of their high theoretical capacity, superior safety, and the wider availability of zinc compared with lithium.

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