Add / Remove The majority of inhabitants on the Philippines’ 7000 islands do not have access to electricity. Instead, they rely primarily on kerosene powered lamps to provide light sources at night, which are not only hazards and pollutants, but also very expensive and inconvenient to refill. Hoping to provide a solution, SALt is an efficient, safe light source powered by salt and water, which can last for up to six months when used for eight hours a day. The SALt lamp — which stands for Sustainable Alternative Lighting — is an LED light that makes use of the science behind the Galvanic cell (the basis for batteries) and changes electrolytes to a non-toxic, saline solution. Users simply add one glass of water and one tablespoon of salt — saltwater from the ocean can also be used to power the device. SALt is the latest of a number of devices which could help lessen the reliance on kerosene power in disconnected regions. We have also seen solar school backpacks that charge up on the walk home, an energy harnessing musical instrument , and a flatpack biofuel stove . What other sustainable resources could be tapped into for similar purposes? Website: www.salt.ph Contact: infosaltph@salt.ph
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Saltwater lamp could replace dangerous kerosene lights
ckwu writes: The designs of pacemakers, watches, and other wearable gadgets have to be tailored around existing battery shapes, such as cylinders, coin cells, and rectangles. But a team of researchers hopes their fully printable, flexible lithium-ion batteries will one day free designers from these constraints. Battery shapes are now limited because of the need to contain liquid electrolytes. Two years ago, the researchers designed a printable, solid-state electrolyte composed of alumina nanoparticles and lithium combined with polymer that can be cured by ultraviolet light. In this latest work, they used a stencil printing technique to print full battery cells with the electrolyte and other printable materials for the electrodes. They printed batteries on paper and the curved surface of a glass mug. These printed Li-ion batteries can power small LEDs but still need a lot of improvements because they don’t last long before needing recharging. Read more of this story at Slashdot. 
