''' <div> By Marco Torres As hemp makes a comeback in the U.S. after a decades-long ban on its cultivation, scientists are reporting that fibers from the plant can pack as much energy and power as graphene, long-touted as the model material for supercapacitors. They're presenting their research, which a Canadian start-up company is working on scaling up, at the 248th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society. Although hemp (cannabis sativa) and marijuana (cannabis sativa var. indica) come from a similar species of plant, they are very different and confusion has been caused by deliberate misinformation with far reaching effects on socioeconomics as well as on environmental matters. Hemp is the most universally useful plant we have at our disposal. The history of mankind's use of hemp can be traced way back in time to between about 5000 - 7000 BC. Industrial hemp and hemp seed could transform the economy of the world States in a positive and beneficial way, and therefore should be exploited to its full potential, especially relating to energy storage. David Mitlin, Ph.D., explains that supercapacitors are energy storage devices that have huge potential to transform the way future electronics are powered. Unlike today's rechargeable batteries, which sip up energy over several hours, supercapacitors can charge and discharge within seconds. But they normally can't store nearly as much energy as batteries, an important property known as energy density. One approach researchers are taking to boost supercapacitors' energy density is to design better electrodes. Mitlin's team has figured out how to make them from certain hemp fibers -- and they can hold as much energy as the current top contender: graphene. "Our device's electrochemical performance is on par with or better than graphene-based devices," Mitlin says. "The key advantage is that our electrodes are made from biowaste using a simple process, and therefore, are much cheaper than graphene." The race toward the ideal supercapacitor has largely focused on graphene -- a strong, light material made of atom-thick layers of carbon, which when stacked, can be made into electrodes. Scientists are investigating how they can take advantage of graphene's unique properties to build better solar cells, water filtration systems, touch-screen technology, as well as batteries and supercapacitors. The problem is it's expensive. Mitlin's group decided to see if they could make graphene-like carbons from hemp bast fibers. The fibers come from the inner bark of the plant and often are discarded from Canada's fast-growing industries that use hemp for clothing, construction materials and other products. The U.S. could soon become another supplier of bast. It now allows limited cultivation of hemp, which unlike its close cousin, does not induce highs. Since the 1950s, the United States has been lumped hemp into the same category of marijuana, and thus the extremely versatile crop was doomed in the United States. Hemp is technically from the same species of plant that psychoactive marijuana comes from. However, it is from a different variety, or subspecies that contains many important differences. Read more at http://expandedconsciousness.com/2014/08/22/cannabis-based-batteries-could-change-the-way-we-store-energy-forever/#KTtx8LEdDp86QJV3.99''</div>
I have a hard time believing that hemp is all that awesome. At this point it feels like hemp is being pushed as some kind of God plant that can be used to make better materials for pretty much everything. There has to be other plants that can do these things. I think people just want hemp to he a God plant so they can get it legalized Sent from my LG-E739 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
It's because it has no real purpose anymore.. leaving it open to be tested left and right for random things. Thing is, it's being proven to be efficient and useful for a lot of different things. Almost anything it can be useful for, there's more than likely at least one other plant out there that is on par, if not better, for each specific use. You could pretty much use any plant for any purpose that is plant based. You could use cotton to make insulation or even compress it into building blocks.. but that wouldn't be a good use of it. Or make some sort of biofuel out of tobacco.. but those plants already have their cause. I personally would like to see it come back as a staple crop, if for nothing else but to replace trees for paper and the 40ish% of corn grown just to feed livestock.
I'm not denying this I'm.simply.implying that hemp isn't the only.plant on the planet capable.of these things Sent from my LG-E739 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
There may be other plants, but few plants have so many uses. I know corn has many uses to man, but it can't get me stoned! Well neither can hemp lol
No, you misconstrue Op's article into some sort of religious fanaticism. It's not about legalizing it, in 1938 there was a magazine article calling hemp the "Billion dollar Crop." right after the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937. It's always better to know than to guess. Secondly, we can use other plants, but the resulting product will always be inferior.
You deny that there is religios-like fanaticism about hemp?! Seriously! Open your eyes To quote a user on this forum from a while back "If you've done your research, weed is pretty much a God plant with no equal" There is definitely religious like fanaticism surrounding hemp and earth ling is one.of those fanatics Also you claim that all.plants would he inferior to hemp is unfounded I'd bet money that almost 100% of the uses for hemp can be done by other plants as well or better Sent from my LG-E739 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
I agree 100% I think people get carried away though I would even go sso far as to say things like this hurt the legalization movement From the outside perspective, they think we are just pot heads grasping at straws when we make all these claims of divinity about hemp Sent from my LG-E739 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
Never denied it, but you've yet to correlate such a claim. As it stands it looks like an ordinary straw-man to me. So the merit of this entire thread is undermined by one post that wasn't even made on this thread... Reaching much? Zealous people are everywhere and besides the point, in no manner can fanaticism change factual evidence. Can I get a side of evidence with my order of hearsay? You know what would be even better? You substantiating your empty claims. But I won't hold my breathe.
The shoe is on the other foot I think you are the one who is reading too deeply into my.posts, or taking them too seriously I'm not trying to deny the awesomeness of hemp Sent from my LG-E739 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
Take a toke and stop trying to be the grey cloud. Cannabis and Hemp are awesome plants that deserve more recognition. No one here is trying to make cannabis or hemp into some 1one plant does all solution, even in a pro-cannabis/hemp website. Its just great to see this one plant be so useful in times of need.
Not when you're the one making unsubstantiated claims. How and when did fanaticism alter the facts about hemp? Your posts are lacking the depth required for me to do so. It's good you also agree that you shouldn't be taken seriously. You sir, most definitely by every definition of the word you attempted to deny the "awesomeness" of said hemp when you said and I quote: Why you must always argue (nonsensically) is beyond me, I only know that actual debate is not your goal. So I'll let you have your last word, 4 posts in and you've yet to substantiate your claims, a trend in your posts I don't see you breaking soon. Good day.
Yuri, that dude takes his wannabe Bill Hicks internet persona way too seriously.. you'll be at it til the end of time with him.