Paper-Thin Battery Could Be Hybrid Breakthrough

Researchers at upstate New York’s Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a paper-thin battery made of mainly cellulose — the same cells found in plants. The thin battery can be rolled up, cut and molded into various shapes and still carry a charge. For vehicle use, this is big news because it could be used in any part of a car — under the floor or seats, inside door panels, under the trunk, etc. — freeing up weight and space that current hybrid batteries take up.

The researchers say it puts out low amounts of energy over a long period of time, but can also be made into a supercapacitor for bursts of high energy. A hybrid version of the battery works in both manners. The battery also contains no water, so it can work in extreme low temperatures, which is a problem with conventional hybrids.

Everything about the battery sounds amazing. It’s made of cheap, non-toxic materials and is paper thin. However, there’s no way of mass-producing it yet. Let’s work on that last part, fellas.   

Flat Battery? Try a Bit of Paper Power (CNN.com)