US Patent 7678495 - Graphitic nanostructured battery

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7678495.html

In order to increase the efficiency of lithium batteries this patent from Alcatel-Lucent teaches forming graphitic nanoposts as the electrode material. Claim 1 reads:

1. A battery, comprising:

an electrolyte fluid; and

a first electrode formed at least in part from a patterned plurality of nanostructured features on a substrate,

the nanostructured features each including graphitic carbon,

the electrolyte fluid being in contact with a surface formed by the patterned plurality of nanostructured features, and

the electrolyte fluid being disposed between the first electrode and a second electrode;

wherein the patterned plurality of nanostructured features, in addition to forming at least a part of the first electrode, enables controllable penetration of the electrolyte fluid through the surface and into contact with the substrate of the first electrode.