Wood-based battery development is gaining momentum as researchers and companies look for alternatives to mined minerals. At Michigan State University (MSU), scientists have shown that a battery separator made from lignin can last 60 percent longer than traditional plastic separators. This battery component also withstands heat up to 300°C, making it safer and more reliable than conventional parts.
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This looks like it could credibly improve both safety, cost and ecological footprint. Nice. :)
(I was previously aware of peat-derived materials being used in batteries, but lignin seems to fit considerably better since wood grows back a hundred times quicker than a peat bog.)