 In August 2007, a research team at RENSSELEAR

POLYTECHNIQUE INSTITUTE led by Drs. Robert

Linhardt, John H. Broadbent, Omkaram Nalamasu with a joint
appointment in material science and engineering developed
the paper battery, also known as Nano Composite Paper.

 In December 2009, Yi Cui and his team at STANFORD

UNIVERSITY successfully made an actual prototype that
gave a terminal voltage of 1.5V.
 Conventional battery produce
electrons through a chemical
reaction between electrolyte and
metal.
 Chemical reaction in paper
battery is between electrolyte
and carbon nanotubes.
 They are non toxic as they do not
involve harmful chemical reactions.
 Paper batteries have long lasting
time.
 They can be used in harsh climate
conditions like heat and cold.
4. MATERIALS & DESCRIPTION
 THIS ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE IS BASED ON TWO
BASIC EXPENSIVE MATERIALS :-

CARBON NANOTUBES.
CELLULOSE.

ALSO AN IONIC LIDUID PROVIDES THE THIRD

COMPONENT :-

ELECTROLYTE.
 5. WHAT IS CARBON NANOTUBE ?
•  Carbon nanotube is the main Concept behind
paper battery.

 Carbon nanotubes (CNTs ; also known as

buckytubes) are allotropes of carbon with a
cylindrical nanostructure.

 It is a tube-shaped material, made of carbon

having a diameter measured on the nano-
meter scale.

 Carbon nanotubes have many structures, differing

in length, thickness, and in the type of helicity and
number of layers.
STEP 2 :
STEP 3 : THEN THE CELLULOSE PAPER HEATED AT 80 DEGREE
CENTIGRADE FOR 5 MINUTES.
NEXT, THE FILM IS PEELED OFF FROM THE SUBSTRATE.
STEP 4 : THE FILM ACTS AS ELECTRODES OF THE PAPER BATTERY ONE
FILM IS CONNECTED TO ELECTROLYTE LTO (lithium titanium oxide)
& ANOTHER FILM IS PASTED TO THE ELECTROLYTE LCO
( lithium cobalt oxide).
STEP 5 : NEXT , CONNECT A LED ON BOTH OF THE
ENDS OF THE BATTERY AND CHECK ITS
FUNCTIONALITY.
7. Principle and working :
 While a conventional battery contains a number of
separate components, the paper battery integrates all of
the battery components in a single structure, making it
more energy efficient , integrated device.
 The battery produces electricity in the same way as
the conventional Li – ion batteries, but all the
components have been incorporated into a light weight,
flexible sheet of paper.
 The devices are formed by combining cellulose with
an infusion of aligned carbon nanotubes.
 We can recall the working principles of traditional
batteries where ions (+ve charged particles) and
electrons (-ve charged particles) moves between the
electrodes , anode (+ve electrode) and cathode (-ve
 Similarly , In Paper Batteries, the metal LITHIUM is used as the anode and
CARBON NANOTUBES as cathode and also the paper or CELLULOSE as the
separator. Due to the chemical reaction between the electrolyte and carbon,
electrons are generated. These generated electrons starts flow through the
external circuit from cathode to the anode.

 So , For the paper batteries,

CATHODE : CARBON NANOTUBE

ANODE : LITHIUM METAL (Li+)
ELECTOLYTE : LTO AND LCO.
ALSO THE BIO ELECTROLYTES LIKE URINE,BLOOD AND
SWEAT.(ALL ELECTROLYTES CAN BE USED)
SEPARATOR : CELLULOSE OR PAPER

 A Conventional Li-ion battery can be incorporated in cellulose – nanotube

composite as shown in next slide.
8. APPLICATIONS
 IN ELECTRONICS :
in calculators, wrist watch, and in wireless
devices like speakers , mouse , keyboard , bluetooth
headsets , smart cards, etc.

 IN MEDICAL SCIENCE :
In pacemakers for the heart ,in artificial
tissues, in cosmetics to get rid out of wrinkles, dark
spots, drug- delivery systems.

 IN AUTOMOBILES AND AIRCRAFTS :

In hybrid car batteries, in long Air Flights
reducing refueling , for light weight guided missiles.
9. ADVANTAGES :
 Paper battery can be used as both supercapacitor
and battery.
 Paper batteries are very feasible , ultrathin, non toxic
and biodegradable battery.
 Long Life.
 Reusable and Recyclable.
 Can be available in different shapes and sizes.
 They offer high energy efficiency.
 Paper Batteries are low cost and can be easily
disposed.
 Provides both long term , steady power
production and bursts of energy.

 Rechargeable.

 No Leakage and Overheating.

 Very light weight and Flexible so that it can be

twisted , crunched .
10. DISADVANTAGES
 Carbon nanotubes are very expensive.

 For commercial viabilities, these batteries

have to be scaled up to the sheets of
newspaper size.

 Should not be inhaled as they can damage

lungs.
11. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION.

 EVERY NATION NEEDS ENERGY AND EVERYONE NEEDS

POWER.

 STANDING AT A POINT IN THE PRESENT WHERE THERE CAN’T

BE A DAY WITHOUT POWER. PAPER BATTERIES CAN PROVIDE
AN ALTOGETHER INNOVATIVE SOLUTION TO THE SAME.

 BIODEGRADABLE, LIGHT-WEIGHTED AND NON-TOXIC,

FLEXIBLE PAPER BATTERIES HAVE POTENTIAL ADAPTABILITY
TO POWER THE NEXT GENERATION OF ELECTRONICS.