Alginate from brown algae could allow stable silicon anodes to replace graphite anodes in better, cheaper batteries. Cynthia Graber reports.

從褐藻中提煉的褐藻膠可以幫助穩定硅電極，以取代石墨電極，來生產質量更好，價格更低的電池。Cynthia Graber 報道。

Common batteries are electrochemical cells. And they may get better thanks to living cells: the multicellular organism called brown algae.

普通電池是電氣化的細胞。并且它們會因有生命的細胞，一種叫做褐藻的多細胞生物，而使其質量變得更好。

Lithium ion batteries include a binder. It holds the graphite nanoparticles that serve as the anode. The binder isn't active, but researchers say it's crucial in the battery's stability. In theory, a silicon anode would make a better battery than graphite, but it's not stable. Cracks form, and the battery degrades. The researchers thought—could a silicon anode succeed with a better binder?

鋰電池內含粘結劑。它能固定住石墨的納米顆粒來形成電極。粘結劑沒有活性，但研究人員稱它在保持電池的穩定性方面起著決定性的作用。理論上，硅電極比石墨電極更適合生產電池，但硅電極不夠穩定。一旦產生裂縫，電池的質量就會下降。研究人員想－－如果有更好的粘結劑，硅電極能否用于電池的實際生產呢？

Seawater has a high concentration of ions, much like the battery's electrolyte. So the researchers thought that an organism that survives in seawater might provide a natural binder. They tested alginate from brown algae. And it provided such an effective binder for silicon nanoparticles that the system didn't degrade. The result? A battery that can store more energy, is less expensive, can last longer and wouldn't use as many toxic chemicals in the manufacturing.

海水包含高濃度的離子，非常類似于電池的電解液。所以研究人員認為，海洋中的有機物可能會提供更好的粘結劑。他們測試了從藍藻中得到的褐藻膠。它為硅的納米顆粒提供了非常好的粘結劑，并且系統的質量并未下降。這個實驗的結果？更好的電池產生了，它能儲存更多能量，更廉價，持續時間更長，而且比傳統電池生產技術使用更少的有毒化學物質。

The research is online in Science Express, in advance of publication in the journal Science. [Igor Kovalenko et al, A Major Constituent of Brown Algae for Use in High-Capacity Li-Ion Batteries]

這個研究結果的在線版發布在Science Express，提前于Science。[Igor Kovalenko et al, A Major Constituent of Brown Algae for Use in High-Capacity Li-Ion Batteries]

The scientists will refine their alginate efforts, in the hope that fast-growing brown algae can help contribute to our fast-growing battery economy.

科研工作者將繼續提高褐藻膠的精煉技術，他們希望快速生長的藍藻能為同樣快速增長的電池經濟做出更大的貢獻。

—Cynthia Graber