Your electric vehicles (EVs) could soon be powered by woodchips. A company in New Zealand is turning discarded woodchips into a more sustainable version of synthetic graphite also known as biographite. The alternative would also help break China’s dominance on a key ingredient in EV batteries.&nbsp;

<h2>What is biographite?</h2>

CarbonScape, a New Zealand-based company, is collecting woodchips from across the world to turn into a form of synthetic graphite which, according to CEO Ivan Williams, is not only more planet-friendly but also as pure as synthetic graphite made from fossil fuels.

Notably, synthetic graphite, used in batteries to power EVs, is mostly produced in China. Therefore, CarbonScape can help provide an alternative to reduce the West’s reliance on Beijing for critical minerals that power the energy transition, amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions.&nbsp;

Biographite, according to the company, is made by heating the byproducts from the forestry industry, aka the woodchips, using a process called thermo-catalytic graphitisation. This process produces charcoal which is then catalysed and purified into graphite which can be used to power EVs.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/ev-startups-rivian-and-lucid-adjust-2024-production-forecasts-amid-market-challenges-692600">EV startups Rivian and Lucid adjust 2024 production forecasts amid market challenges</a>

“The production of ‘traditional’ synthetic graphite uses fossil fuel-based feedstocks, such as coal tar pitch and petroleum coke, and fossil fuel-powered processes,” said Williams, as quoted by Euronews.&nbsp;

He added, “Consequently, it emits 35 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions for each tonne of graphite it produces.” The mining of graphite can also adversely impact local communities, animals, and the environment.&nbsp;

According to Williams, their process can remove the equivalent of 2.7 tonnes of carbon emissions for every tonne that is used to make biographite. The material is reportedly being manufactured in the European Union and the United States.&nbsp;

The CarbonSpace CEO also noted that since biographite can be made close to battery factories it can further lessen carbon dioxide emissions by cutting the need to transport it. “Our mission is to decarbonize the battery industry,” Williams told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).&nbsp;

<h2>Less dependence on China</h2>

Several Western countries are considering sustainable alternatives to meet their climate goals, including increased investment in EVs.&nbsp;China sent shockwaves across the world in October after announcing that it would tighten export controls on graphite, citing security concerns.&nbsp;

Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/uber-signs-mou-with-tata-motors-to-bring-25000-evs-on-platform-in-india-563989">&nbsp;Uber signs MoU with Tata Motors to bring 25,000 EVs on platform in India</a>

China not only reportedly produces 60 per cent of the world’s natural graphite and nearly 70 per cent of synthetic graphite, but also mostly all the very pure graphite used in lithium-ion batteries, used to power EVs.

In 2023, CarbonScape secured $18 million in funding from Finnish-Swedish forestry firm Stora Enso and Hong Kong-based battery producer Amperex Technology, reported Euronews.&nbsp;

The funds, the firm said, would be used to finance the construction of commercial biographite plants in Europe and the US.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Your electric vehicles (EVs) could soon be powered by woodchips. A company in New Zealand is turning discarded woodchips into a more sustainable version of synthetic graphite also known as biographite.

Your electric vehicles (EVs) could soon be powered by woodchips. A company in New Zealand is turning discarded woodchips into a more sustainable version of synthetic graphite also known as biographite. The alternative would also help break China’s dominance on a key ingredient in EV batteries. What is biographite? CarbonScape, a New Zealand-based company, is collecting woodchips from across the world to turn into a form of synthetic graphite which, according to CEO Ivan Williams, is not only more planet-friendly but also as pure as synthetic graphite made from fossil fuels. Notably, synthetic graphite, used in batteries to power EVs, is mostly produced in China. Therefore, CarbonScape can help provide an alternative to reduce the West’s reliance on Beijing for critical minerals that power the energy transition, amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions. Biographite, according to the company, is made by heating the byproducts from the forestry industry, aka the woodchips, using a process called thermo-catalytic graphitisation. This process produces charcoal which is then catalysed and purified into graphite which can be used to power EVs. Also Read | EV startups Rivian and Lucid adjust 2024 production forecasts amid market challenges “The production of ‘traditional’ synthetic graphite uses fossil fuel-based feedstocks, such as coal tar pitch and petroleum coke, and fossil fuel-powered processes,” said Williams, as quoted by Euronews. He added, “Consequently, it emits 35 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions for each tonne of graphite it produces.” The mining of graphite can also adversely impact local communities, animals, and the environment. According to Williams, their process can remove the equivalent of 2.7 tonnes of carbon emissions for every tonne that is used to make biographite. The material is reportedly being manufactured in the European Union and the United States. The CarbonSpace CEO also noted that since biographite can be made close to battery factories it can further lessen carbon dioxide emissions by cutting the need to transport it. “Our mission is to decarbonize the battery industry,” Williams told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). Less dependence on China Several Western countries are considering sustainable alternatives to meet their climate goals, including increased investment in EVs. China sent shockwaves across the world in October after announcing that it would tighten export controls on graphite, citing security concerns. Also Read | Uber signs MoU with Tata Motors to bring 25,000 EVs on platform in India China not only reportedly produces 60 per cent of the world’s natural graphite and nearly 70 per cent of synthetic graphite, but also mostly all the very pure graphite used in lithium-ion batteries, used to power EVs. In 2023, CarbonScape secured $18 million in funding from Finnish-Swedish forestry firm Stora Enso and Hong Kong-based battery producer Amperex Technology, reported Euronews. The funds, the firm said, would be used to finance the construction of commercial biographite plants in Europe and the US. (With inputs from agencies)

Woodchips to biographite: This material to make EV batteries sustainable, reduce dependence on China

Synthetic skin,&nbsp;made of polypropylene glycol and silicone and one that&nbsp;can stretch like human skin without any tearing, besides having&nbsp;magnetic properties which help the skin to self-align, has been developed by scientists at Stanford University.

On warming, the two polymers soften and flow and solidify when they cool. When it is heated at around 158 degree&nbsp;Fahrenheit, the healing and self-alignment take place in about 24 hours.

The team stated that the skin could create "reconfigurable soft robots that can change shape and sense their deformation on demand" and ultimately transform warfare.

PhD candidate and Co-author Chris Cooper said, "We've achieved what we believe to be the first demonstration of a multi-layer, thin film sensor that automatically realigns during healing. This is a critical step toward mimicking human skin, which has multiple layers that all re-assemble correctly during the healing process."&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-ultimate-guide-to-skin-ph-medical-expert-reveals-why-its-important-to-maintain-ph-balance-601253">Ultimate guide to skin pH! Medical expert reveals why it's important to maintain pH balance</a>

<h2>Real Terminator</h2>

The team stated that the skin invented is closest to the futuristic e-skin which was donned by Arnold Schwarzenegger's character in The Terminator.&nbsp;

The same layering technique of human skin was used by Cooper and his colleagues to develop their innovation.&nbsp;

Co-author Dr Sam Root stated, "One layer might sense pressure, another temperature, and yet another tension."&nbsp;

The experts can engineer the skin layers to sense mechanical, thermal or electrical changes. Each layer's backbone is formed of long molecular chains which are connected by dynamic hydrogen bonds, which are similar to those that hold the DNA strands' double helix together.&nbsp;

This ensures that the skin can be stretched repeatedly without tearing, similar to latex.&nbsp;

"Skin is slow to heal, too. I cut my finger the other day, and it was still healing four or five days later. For us, the most important part is that it heals to recover functions without our input or effort," Cooper stated.&nbsp;

Silicone and PPG (polypropylene glycol) have been used by the researchers. Both materials have mechanical and rubber-like properties and biocompatibility.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;Amputees could feel warmth of human touch with new bionic technology

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/amputees-could-feel-warmth-of-human-touch-with-new-bionic-technology-593920/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Both materials were designed carefully to ensure they have similar viscous and elastic responses to the stress they face externally over an appropriate temperature range.

Further, adding magnetic materials also helped the prototype to self-assemble from various pieces.

Meanwhile, co-author Prof Renee Zhao said, "Combining with magnetic field-guided navigation and induction heating, we may be able to build reconfigurable soft robots that can change shape and sense their deformation on demand."&nbsp;

"The long-term vision of the skin is to create devices that can recover from extreme damage. For example, imagine a device that, when torn into pieces and ripped apart, could reconstruct itself autonomously," the professor added.&nbsp;

You can&nbsp;now write for&nbsp;wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Synthetic skin, made of polypropylene glycol and silicone and one that can stretch like human skin without any tearing, besides having magnetic properties which help the skin to self-align, has been developed by scientists at Stanford University.

Synthetic skin, made of polypropylene glycol and silicone and one that can stretch like human skin without any tearing, besides having magnetic properties which help the skin to self-align, has been developed by scientists at Stanford University. On warming, the two polymers soften and flow and solidify when they cool. When it is heated at around 158 degree Fahrenheit, the healing and self-alignment take place in about 24 hours. The team stated that the skin could create "reconfigurable soft robots that can change shape and sense their deformation on demand" and ultimately transform warfare. PhD candidate and Co-author Chris Cooper said, "We've achieved what we believe to be the first demonstration of a multi-layer, thin film sensor that automatically realigns during healing. This is a critical step toward mimicking human skin, which has multiple layers that all re-assemble correctly during the healing process." ALSO READ | Ultimate guide to skin pH! Medical expert reveals why it's important to maintain pH balance Real Terminator The team stated that the skin invented is closest to the futuristic e-skin which was donned by Arnold Schwarzenegger's character in The Terminator. The same layering technique of human skin was used by Cooper and his colleagues to develop their innovation. Co-author Dr Sam Root stated, "One layer might sense pressure, another temperature, and yet another tension." The experts can engineer the skin layers to sense mechanical, thermal or electrical changes. Each layer's backbone is formed of long molecular chains which are connected by dynamic hydrogen bonds, which are similar to those that hold the DNA strands' double helix together. This ensures that the skin can be stretched repeatedly without tearing, similar to latex. "Skin is slow to heal, too. I cut my finger the other day, and it was still healing four or five days later. For us, the most important part is that it heals to recover functions without our input or effort," Cooper stated. Silicone and PPG (polypropylene glycol) have been used by the researchers. Both materials have mechanical and rubber-like properties and biocompatibility. WATCH | Amputees could feel warmth of human touch with new bionic technology Both materials were designed carefully to ensure they have similar viscous and elastic responses to the stress they face externally over an appropriate temperature range. Further, adding magnetic materials also helped the prototype to self-assemble from various pieces. Meanwhile, co-author Prof Renee Zhao said, "Combining with magnetic field-guided navigation and induction heating, we may be able to build reconfigurable soft robots that can change shape and sense their deformation on demand." "The long-term vision of the skin is to create devices that can recover from extreme damage. For example, imagine a device that, when torn into pieces and ripped apart, could reconstruct itself autonomously," the professor added. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Real Terminators? Synthetic self-healing skin likely to create killer robots on battlefield

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