Batteries as thin as paper could become reality, after scientists developed a way of storing energy in copier paper.

The method relies on the carbon nanotubes and silver nanowires contained within a special ink which can coated onto everyday paper. Even if the paper is crumpled, it is still effective as an energy storage and conductive device.

Researchers at Stanford University developed the ink and painted it onto copier paper. The coated paper is then dipped in a lithium solution and an electrolyte to provide the chemical reaction that generates a battery’s electric current.

The paper collects the electric charge from the reaction. Using paper in this way could significantly reduce the weight of batteries.

Yi Cui, assistant professor of materials science and engineering at Stanford lead the research into developing the ultra lightweight batteries. His findings are published online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The paper batteries could last through 40,000 charge-discharge cycles – similar to the current capabilities of lithium batteries. They could be used for a number of products-from phone to electric cars.

Cui had previously created nanomaterial energy storage devices using plastics. But his latest research shows that a paper battery would be more durable because the ink adheres more strongly to paper. What’s more, you can crumple or fold the paper battery, or even soak it in acidic or basic solutions, and the performance does not degrade.

The technique could lead to paintable energy storage which could be applied to walls or cloth. A paper-based battery could useful for applications like electric or hybrid cars, which depend on the quick transfer of electricity. The paper supercapacitor’s high surface-to-volume ratio gives it an advantage in quick energy discharge.