Madder root (<i>Rubia</i> sp.) Produces a Dye Powder, Purpurin, to Make a Green Battery (IMAGE)

City College of New York

Madder root (<i>Rubia</i> sp.) Produces a Dye Powder, Purpurin, to Make a Green Battery

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More than 3,500 years ago, civilizations in Asia and the Middle East first boiled madder roots to color fabrics in vivid oranges, reds and pinks. In its latest technological incarnation, the climbing herb could lay the foundation for an eco-friendly alternative to traditional lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. Chemists from the City College of New York teamed with researchers from Rice University and the US Army Research Laboratory to develop a non-toxic and sustainable lithium-ion battery powered by purpurin, a dye extracted from the roots of the madder plant (Rubia species).

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John/Vijai

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