Water hyacinth-based battery paves way for green energy storage system

Assoc Prof Ir Ts Dr Bernard Saw Lip Huat represented UTAR to share his research project on “Water hyacinth-based battery” at the Research Symposium with Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) on 26 October 2022 at Glassroom, Edinburgh Napier University.

Themed Circular Economy for Green Energy Transition, the research symposium which was held physically and streamed online via WEBEX, saw a total of 150 participants attending the online webinar from various regions of the world.

Edinburgh Napier University, Schools of Computing and Engineering and Built Environment Dean Prof Peter Andras and UTAR Vice President for R&D and Commercialisation Prof Ts Dr Faidz bin Abd Rahman were the first to greet at the research symposium. The greetings were followed by two presentations from the representatives of two funding institutes, namely Kuek Yen Sim from the British Council and Ida Semurni from the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT).

Also present at the symposium were nine renowned speakers from various backgrounds, ranging from policymakers to academics and industrialists, namely Prof Steven Eichhorn from the University of Bristol, Prof Winifred Ijomah from the Strathclyde University, Dr Dongyang Sun from Edinburgh Napier University, Dr Bernard Saw from UTAR, Liew Chung Peng from Eclimo Sdn Bhd, Dr Euan McTurk from Plug Life Consulting Ltd, Dr Leonardo Binetti from Arabat Ltd, Italy, Colin Kennedy from Zero Waste Scotland and Andrew Cowie from Denchi Group.

The speakers shared their knowledge on the latest development of the energy storage system; sodium-ion battery development; remanufacture of the battery; recycling of the battery; raw material and mining for the Li-ion battery; nanocellulose separator for aluminium-air battery; second life of the Li-ion battery; Li-ion battery pack design; current policy for the battery manufacturer and recycling requirement according to euro standard; circular economy for Scotland manufacturing sector, etc.

Dr Bernard Saw represented the researchers from UTAR, Edinburgh Napier University and University of Bristol to present their invention— A Water Hyacinth-Based Battery. He said, “The battery with its critical part made of water hyacinth could pave the way to a green energy storage system which could replace the conventional lithium batteries.”

Dr Bernard Saw added, “The nanofibril extracted from water hyacinth are fabricated into the separator to isolate the functioning part of the battery. The nanocellulose separator not only enhances the ion transfer but also extends the performance of the aluminium-air battery.”

He expressed his appreciation and said, “The project is fully supported by the Research Environment Links Grant from the British Council and Malaysia Industry-Government Group for High Technology, as part of the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships programme. The programme builds stronger, more inclusive, internationally connected higher education and TVET systems.”

Other members of the project include Dr Thiam Hui San (UTAR), Ir Ts Dr Yew Ming Chian (UTAR), Tan Weng Cheong (UTAR), Asrin Awang Selan (UTAR), Dr Dongyang Sun (Edinburgh Napier University), Dr Zhilun Lu (Edinburgh Napier University), Dr Amaka Joy Oniyianta (University of Bristol) and Prof Stephen J. Eichhorn (University of Bristol).  

Dr Bernard Saw sharing research project on “Water hyacinth-based battery” at the Research Symposium