Soon, Glow In The Dark Dye Could Power Cars

Researchers have identified a glow-in-the –dark fluorescent dye which may be an ideal material for stockpiling energy in rechargeable, liquid-based batteries that could one day power cars and homes. The dye called Bodipy – or boron-dipyrromethene shines brightly in the dark under a black light. Researchers from University at Buffalo (UB), US, say the dye has unusual chemical properties that enable it to excel at two key tasks: storing electrons and participating in their transfer. Batteries must perform these functions to save and deliver energy, and Bodipy is very good at them. In experiments, a Bodipy-based test battery operated efficiently and with longevity, running well after researchers drained and recharged it 100 times. Bodipy is a promising material for a liquid-based battery called a “redox flow battery”. These fluid-filled power cells present several advantages over those made from conventional materials. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, the dye based batteries would not catch fire; if they ruptured, they would simply leak.