Biomimicry Design Alliance

Nature has been running efficient, self-renewing systems for billions of years.

Marine organisms like mussels and algae create adhesives that are strong, flexible, and biodegradable—able to perform in harsh, wet environments without leaving behind toxic residue. Researchers have now translated that chemistry into a new kind of battery binder, replacing fluorinated materials that release harmful “forever chemicals.”

The result: zinc batteries with 52% higher energy efficiency after 8,000 cycles; longer life, fewer replacements, and a significantly lower environmental footprint.

This is what it looks like to design differently - not just optimizing performance, but rethinking the materials entirely.

Source:

Lessons from the sea: Nature shows us how to get ‘forever chemicals’ out of batteries Batteries are typically held together by chemicals that don’t easily degrade. However, some marine animals have evolved remarkable natural ways to attach themselves to wet, slippery surfaces.