3D-printed batteries the size of a grain of sand

Huge.

Small in size, big on energy.
(Image credit: Screen shot)

The dirty secret of lithium-ion batteries, which power everything from electric cars to iPhones, is that the technology hasn't had a breakthrough in years. While the rest of the technology world subscribes to Moore's law — that over time gadgets should become exponentially faster, lighter, and more compact — battery size and capacity has hit a wall. It's a problem that Apple, Samsung, Tesla, and every R&D department in the tech industry is forced to grapple with (and make concessions for) every single day.

"The problem lies in the graphite that stores lithium ions in the anode of a battery," explains TIME's Jared Newman. "Graphite has a theoretical limit to how much lithium it can hold, and today's batteries have pretty much reached it. While bigger batteries are always an option... most people don't want thicker, heavier phones."

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Chris Gayomali is the science and technology editor for TheWeek.com. Previously, he was a tech reporter at TIME. His work has also appeared in Men's Journal, Esquire, and The Atlantic, among other places. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.