A research team at Charles Sturt University in Australia has discovered a method of converting fallen human hair into graphite, with potential applications in energy storage and pharmaceutical technology.
The team of researchers from the Australian university harnessed the power of human hair as a key component to develop sustainable energy storage solutions as well as the utilization of biological waste. Dr. Amadeep Singh Panu, in collaboration with Professor Muhammad Siddiqui, has discovered how to turn human hair into graphite, so that the material can then be used in the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries.
“Energy needs are constantly increasing and countries are trying to switch to renewable sources,” said Dr. Singh. “However, in order to achieve this transition, sustainable ways of storing this energy are required, so the need to develop high-energy-density storage materials in a sustainable manner is imperative. Graphite is a key material used as the negative pole in lithium-ion batteries, and the production of it is located in very few countries, causing the hardware to be affected by supply chain problems and geopolitical upheavals, affecting the entire storage media manufacturing industry.”
Dr. Singh pointed out that producing graphite sustainably from readily available material and locally in Australia would greatly benefit the nation’s energy sector.
Besides, as the demand for electric and hybrid vehicles increases, the need for lithium-ion batteries follows a corresponding trajectory. But Dr. Singh said that producing graphite for use in these batteries can cause contamination, as it involves the use of harsh chemicals such as hydrofluoric acid.
“An ecological, carbon-rich source, available in abundant quantities anytime, anywhere, is human hair,” he said. “It’s an extremely clean source, throughout the processes, with very few by-products or negative effects.”
Sustainable Salons, an organization specializing in removing salon waste from landfill, collects hair clippings from salons and pet services across Australia and New Zealand.
As of 2020, Paul Frasca, co-founder of Sustainable Salons, supplied Dr. Singh with these hairs in order to carry out his research.
“We envision a future where hair is no longer considered waste and is a sustainable resource with enormous potential,” said Mr. Frasca. “What makes hair stand out is that it is an inexhaustible resource: hair is constantly growing! The prospect of using human hair to power our electric vehicles demonstrates that a sustainable future has unlimited potential if we embrace the circular economy.” .
Already, in his previous research, Dr. Singh had managed to use hair to make flexible light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which are used in a number of technological products, but instead of heavy metals, the active material is drawn from human hair.
“This could really revolutionize how we achieve our targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions” in the future, he said.
Interested parties can find more information about the research here.
