Batteries aren’t that hard to make. You might have made a lemon or potato into a battery as a kids’ science project.
But lemons aren’t really cheap or long-lasting enough to become a central part of the energy economy – and we are going to need many, many more batteries as our cars and homes electrify and our grids transition to renewables.
So: beyond the humble lemon, what else can you make batteries out of? This year, scientists had a range of bizarre answers: here are six of Cosmos’ favourites.
How do batteries work?
Before diving into the ingredients of a battery, it’s worth taking a look at how they work. Our explainer on batteries will get you right into the mechanics, and where they best fit in the electricity grid.
Now you know, let’s take a look at all the bizarre things…