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Nanotech Ink Turns Paper Into a Low-Cost Battery

jangel writes "Stanford University researchers have demonstrated a way to turn ordinary paper into a battery, which may be crumpled or pressed into any form. It's said the technology promises greater durability, higher efficiency, and faster energy transfer than traditional batteries. The technique uses special ink made of carbon nanotubes and silver nanowires. Thanks to the small diameters of these materials, the ink sticks strongly to the fibrous paper, allowing the battery to be extremely durable. The paper battery could last through 40,000 charge-discharge cycles — at least an order of magnitude more than lithium batteries. According to the researchers, the paper batteries will be low-cost, may be crumpled or folded, and can even be soaked in acidic or basic solutions, yet their performance does not degrade. 'We just haven't tested what happens when you burn it,' one of the researchers quipped." This is the same Stanford research team, lead by Yi Cui, whose work with nanotechnology for battery applications we have discussed before. We've also delved into alternate routes to the holy grail of the ultra-thin battery.

7 of 129 comments (clear)

  1. fancy ink by trb · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ink made out of carbon nanotubes and silver nanowires? That will be almost as expensive as inkjet ink.

  2. Re:What's the energy density? by jd2112 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I hope I don't have to carry around a copy of "War and Peace" just to power my phone.

    No, but it will power your Kindle.

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    Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
  3. Re:What's the energy density? by sentientbeing · · Score: 5, Funny

    No duh. You carry around a jpg of the battery on your phone. When your battery is about to die, you go to a network printer, print off the jpg and replace the new battery.

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    beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his mind he dreams himself your master
  4. Re:Nice, but... by Eternauta3k · · Score: 5, Funny

    What's the ink made of? Oil?

    Baby seals

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    Yeah. Would you choose a neurosurgeon who pokes around people's brains in his spare time? I wouldn't.
  5. Re:Nice, but... by amRadioHed · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The story isn't entirely clear, but it does say "the technique uses special ink made of carbon nanotubes and silver nanowires". Based on that I would guess the ink may be made of carbon nanotubes and silver nanowires.

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    We hope your rules and wisdom choke you / Now we are one in everlasting peace
  6. Just Wow! by Linker3000 · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you tie a length of this paper into a Möbius strip, do you get an infinite power source - or just AC?

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    AT&ROFLMAO
  7. Re:Nice, but... by DMUTPeregrine · · Score: 5, Funny

    Warranty void if seal is broken.

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    Not a sentence!