All Plant-Based Compact Supercapacitor in Living Plants

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Energy Storage
• Plant-based Electronics

Background:

• Biomass-based energy storage devices (BESDs) are explored as sustainable alternatives to traditional electronics.
• Current BESDs often rely on processed plant materials and chemical additives, limiting their integration with living plants.
• Living plants offer inherent advantages like biodegradability, biocompatibility, and low cost for energy storage applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an all-plant-based compact supercapacitor (APCSC) utilizing living plants.
• To investigate the feasibility of using plant tissue fluid as an electrolyte in an electronic plant (e-plant).
• To assess the performance and potential applications of APCSCs in various plant species.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of an APCSC integrated within living succulent plants, such as aloe and cactus.
• Utilizing the plant's natural tissue fluid as the electrolyte for the supercapacitor.
• Characterization of the electrical capacitance and biological compatibility of the e-plant device.

Main Results:

• The APCSC achieved a high electrical capacitance of 182.5 mF cm⁻², surpassing previously reported biomass-based micro-supercapacitors.
• The device is composed entirely of plant-derived materials, ensuring biological compatibility and minimal harm to plant growth.
• The e-plant technology is demonstrated in multiple succulent species, including aloe and cactus.

Conclusions:

• An innovative all-plant-based supercapacitor (APCSC) has been successfully created within living plants, functioning as an electronic plant (e-plant).
• This technology leverages plant tissue fluid as a natural electrolyte, offering a sustainable and high-performance energy storage solution.
• The APCSC has broad applicability in smart botany, forestry, and agriculture, with potential for providing electricity in extreme environments.