Aerogel gives rise to nano-boomerangs with a high return

The continued evolution of various high-tech gadgets dictates that it is necessary to reduce the size of chemical power sources whilst retaining their extraordinary electrochemical performance characteristics, such as their discharge capacity and power density. Cathode materials must intercalate and deintercalate lithium ions thousands of times and maintain high electronic conductivity between tiny particles of material undergoing huge stress relaxation. Obviously, a high surface area favors fast ion exchange between the cathode and the surrounding electrolyte, and a low particle size or thickness of the cathode material preserves the stability of the crystal structure. Traditional 2D cells aren’t able to support the energy and size requirements of microdevices such as “smart dust” or intelligent medical implants