Batteries are powering our everyday electronic devices, but they have a lot of toxic materials in them, and the like of lithium can be hard to get rid of. There is also the problem that there is not an unlimited supply around the globe. There is now an alternative way to produce electricity according to the researchers at MIT, and toxic materials are not involved.
Chemical Engineering Professor at MIT Michael Strano announced that carbon nanotubes will provide an electrical current if it is heated along the length. Coat it with the right material then light it like a fuse. Initial experiments were quite disappointing as not a lot of energy was produced, but with recent changes, the output is no different to that of a battery that has a high output. It could take a few years before these are commercially available. Energy and Environmental Science published the paper written by Strano and others. Strano says that he is surprised that this has not been tried before.
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Sugar is now used rather than an explosive material, and heat is the key so with improved sources, power will increase. LED light can already be lit, and there is no reason there should be a shelf life less than infinite given. These batteries are also suitable for wearable technology as well as items that remain dormant such as the space probe. Data can be sent back to earth and not lost as it would be if traditional power sources were used.