A little wax and soap will help build electrodes for cheaper lithium ion batteries. According to a study in an August issue of Nano Letters, a new one-step method will allow battery developers to explore lower-priced alternatives to popular lithium ion-metal oxide batteries.

Consumers use them in everything from cell phones to toothbrushes, and they're being tried in automobiles. But, most lithium ion batteries available today are designed with an OXIDE of metal such as cobalt, nickel, or manganese which are relatively heavy and expensive. Scientists with the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Lab have been experimenting with cheaper metals and the more stable phosphate in place of oxide.

Researchers say, paraffin can provide a good medium in which to grow lighter, cheaper electrode materials.