Conventional lithium ion batteries have a limited storage capacity and are costly to manufacture. Replacing the carbon (graphite) anodes found in lithium ion batteries with anodes of silicon nanowires has the potential to increase their storage capacity by ten folds. Silicon had previously been recognized as a favorable anode material, but silicon structures disintegrate, causing anodes of this material to lose the storage capacity.
Silicon nanowire battery electrodes are mechanically strong and capable of withstanding the induction and emission of lithium ions. This had solved the problem and offers a longer life cycle and higher energy capacity for rechargeable lithium batteries. Research group at Stanford has created a surface as a battery by painting an ink that will deposit nanotubes. It is claimed that a layer of special ink infused with nanoparticles can be formed by dipping ordinary paper or fabric to make cheap and lightweight batteries.