Batteries Made From Ordinary Paper

Wednesday, December 09 2009

Using nanotechnology, Stanford scientists are producing ultra-lightweight, bendable batteries and supercapacitors in the form of everyday paper. Coating a sheet of paper with ink made of carbon nanotubes and silver nanowires makes a highly conductive storage device.

Like batteries, capacitors hold an electric charge, but for a shorter period of time. However, capacitors can store and discharge electricity much more rapidly than a battery.

"These nanomaterials are special," said Yi Cui, assistant professor of Materials Science and Engineering. "They're a one-dimensional structure with very small diameters."

The small diameter helps the nanomaterial ink stick strongly to the fibrous paper, making the battery and supercapacitor very durable. The paper supercapacitor may last through 40,000 charge-discharge cycles. The nanomaterials also make ideal conductors because they move electricity along much more efficiently than ordinary conductors.