Stanford Researchers Turn Paper into Batteries

Filed in archive Research on December 13, 2009

Stanford University researchers have developed a method of turning paper into ultra-lightweight, bendable batteries.

"The paper batteries are designed to be folded, crumpled or even soaked in an acidic solution and still work, according to Yi Cui, assistant professor of materials science and engineering... at Stanford," writes Computerworld's Sharon Gaudin. "The team created the batteries by coating a sheet of paper with ink made of carbon nanotubes and silver nanowires."

"Once dipped in the ink and then baked, ordinary paper turns into a black paper that can act as a battery or supercapacitor," writes CNET News' Candace Lombardi. "The paper retains its ability to hold a charge regardless of whether it's bent, crumpled, or rolled.
The ink looks identical to common India ink, which makes sense given the fact that Cui's ink is also made of carbon, albeit carbon nanotubes."

More here from Electronista ... more here from Greenbang ... and the press release is here.