In an effort to make develop batteries that are thinner and flexible, researchers have developed a cell that consists of all but a single copy paper with carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes were used to collect and store the electric charge. This new technology, researchers believe will be an efficient way to cut out on the manufacturing costs of batteries and also on the flexibility of such batteries. The technique involved paper being painted with carbon nanotubes as paper served as the best surface for the carbon nanotubes.

Other advantages of using paper include its flexibility and the light weight. The painted paper with the tiny interconnected network of millions of nanotubes, is then dipped in a lithium containing solution which produces an electric charge as a result of the chemical reactions. These new types of batteries were also known to release energy in sudden bursts and this would be useful in applications like electric cars.