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Scientists in Estonia say they have found a way to use a soil-like material to produce batteries.

爱沙尼亚科学家表示，他们已经找到了一种使用类似土壤的材料来生产电池的方法。

The material is peat, a dark substance made of decomposed¹ plants.

这种材料是泥炭，一种由腐烂的植物组成的深色物质。

Peat is widely available in areas across northern Europe.

泥炭在整个北欧地区随处可见。

Researchers from Estonia's Tartu University say they have found a way to use peat in sodium²-ion batteries.

爱沙尼亚塔尔图大学的研究人员说，他们已经找到了一种在钠离子电池中使用泥炭的方法。

This kind of battery is one of several new technologies being considered to replace widely used lithium-ion batteries.

这种电池是被认为可以替代广泛使用的锂离子电池的几种新技术之一。

Lithium-ion batteries power everything from smartphones to computers to electric vehicles.

锂离子电池为智能手机、电脑、电动汽车等提供动力。

Sodium-ion technology reduces the cost of the battery production process.

钠离子技术降低了电池生产过程的成本。

This is because the batteries contain sodium instead of costly³ materials such as lithium, cobalt or nickel.

这是因为电池中含有钠，而不是锂、钴或镍等昂贵的材料。

Enn Lust⁴ is head of the Institute of Chemistry at Tartu University.

恩·鲁斯特是塔尔图大学化学研究所的负责人。

He told reporters with Reuters news agency that peat "doesn't cost anything, really."

他对路透社记者说，泥炭“真的不花一分钱”。

The battery-making process includes heating the decomposed peat to a high temperature for two to three hours.

电池的制造过程包括将腐烂的泥炭加热到高温两到三个小时。

The university is seeking government support to finance a small factory in Estonia to test the technology.

该大学正在寻求政府支持，资助爱沙尼亚的一家小工厂来测试这项技术。

Peat is commonly found in wet areas known as bogs⁵.

泥炭通常出现在被称为沼泽的潮湿地区。

It is used by whisky makers⁷ in Scotland.

它被苏格兰的威士忌制造商使用。

Some northern European countries use the material to fuel factories and homes.

一些北欧国家使用这种材料为工厂和家庭提供燃料。

It is also added to soil to help plants grow.

它还被添加到土壤中以帮助植物生长。

During the collection process, bogs are drained to mine peat.

在收集过程中，沼泽被排干以开采泥炭。

Trapped carbon dioxide is released into the air.

捕获的二氧化碳被释放到空气中。

This has raised environmental concerns.

这引发了人们对环境的担忧。

But the Estonian scientists say their process uses decomposed peat.

但爱沙尼亚科学家表示，他们在这一过程中使用了腐烂的泥炭。

This a waste product of traditional collection methods.

这是传统收集方法产生的废物。

It is usually thrown away.

它通常会被扔掉。

Lukasz Bednarski is a battery materials expert.

卢卡斯·贝德纳斯基是电池材料专家。

He told Reuters that sodium-ion batteries using peat will need to prove to be profitable and easily produced in large numbers.

他告诉路透社，使用泥炭的钠离子电池需要证明是有利可图的，并且易于大量生产。

In July, China's CATL became the first major automotive battery maker⁶ to release a sodium-ion battery.

今年7月，中国的宁德时代成为首家推出钠离子电池的大型汽车电池制造商。

Bednarski said, "I think that companies will increasingly try to commercialize the sodium-ion battery, especially after the CATL announcement."

贝德纳斯基说：“我认为公司将越来越多地尝试把钠离子电池商业化，特别是在宁德时代宣布之后。”

He added that less powerful sodium-ion batteries are likely to be used together with lithium-ion technology to bring down the overall cost of battery systems.

他补充说，功率较小的钠离子电池可能会与锂离子技术一起使用，以降低电池系统的总体成本。

I'm Bryan Lynn.

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