News & Reviews:   Stanford Self-healing battery

Despite it's benefits as being a relatively cheap and lightweight battery material, silicon tends to expand when charging and shrink back when discharged. This often results in cracks which cause the silicon to break off from the electrode, which degrades battery life. Researchers at Stanford used a "stretchy polymer that coats the electrode, binds it and spontaneously heals tiny cracks that develop". This self-heals and seals the silicon, allowing it to extend battery life much further than before.