Turning Hemp Fibers Into Batteries: Another Way Hemp Could Save Our Planet

MintPress News
Dr. David Mitlin, the head researcher of a group working on supercapacitors at the University of Alberta in Canada says that their project turning hemp fibers into a graphene substitute is about one thousand times cheaper than making graphene. We have legions of electronic devices, and each one of those devices has a battery inside of it. Ever experience the frustration of fully charging your smartphone just to have it die a few hours later? Or need your electric car to drive more miles before the battery is completely drained? Then read on.
http://www.mintpressnews.com/turning-hemp-fibers-into-batteries-another-way-hemp-could-save-our-planet/202644/ 

Hemp batteries could be a reality

Digital Journal

Researchers have found a way to boost the energy density of supercapacitors through the use of more sophisticated electrodes. These electrodes are composed of hemp fibers, and they have a high energy storage capacity.

The development breakthrough has been made by a Canadian start-up company, led by Dr. David Mitlin. The idea arose from some applied thinking, when Mitlin's group decided to see if they could make graphene-like carbons from hemp bast fibers. 

http://www.digitaljournal.com/science/hemp-batteries-could-be-a-reality/article/403104

University Develops Hemp-based Super Capacitors

Gas2 - Green Cars that Don't Suck
Super-capacitors can store and release electricity like a battery, but can be recharged in seconds instead of hours. At the moment, they are usually made from graphene, a man-made super material that is 100 times stronger than steel by weight, conducts electricity better than copper, and is more flexible than rubber. Unfortunately, graphene is very costly to produce. A team of researchers led by David Mitlin at Clarkson University in New York have found a way to produce super-capacitors from an inexpensive hemp fiber left over from textile and building material construction that could pave the way for a mainstream super-capacitor.
http://gas2.org/2014/08/25/hemp-based-super-capacitors/