MIT researchers say the carbon nanotubes could be a more durable, energy storage reliable alternative to traditional batteries. The best thing about this carbon nanotubes is there is no leakage.

It is one of the simplest energy storage devices known to man: The spring. Think how a cat in the box keeps hold of the mechanical energy needed to compress the clown in the box, releasing only when the song reaches its climax weasel. And energy storage is a long-term proposal. The clown probably could sit, ready on the box in the attic of her grandmother 100 years, even until some joker, cranks the handle and, POP! Now imagine millions of carbon nanotubes - tube-shaped molecules of pure carbon - all store much energy, pound for pound than a similar amount of lithium ion battery, then the release of that energy to power a lunar explorer , a silent leaf blower or even a car.
That is the subject of two papers on the results of Carol Livermore, associate professor of mechanical engineering at MIT. As part of the investigation, Livermore has a theoretical power source, which stores energy in a source of carbon nanotubes, to study the potential of generating electricity from the stored mechanical energy.

These sources can provide the stored energy as an intense burst, fast or slow and steady over a long period - Imagine a mousetrap in front of an hourglass, for example. And unlike batteries, the energy stored in these springs does not leak over time. In addition, Livermore, says, must be able to upload and recharged many times without a loss in performance, even though evidence is needed to be sure. Of course, converting mechanical energy into electricity will cause some of the energy is dissipated through friction and other processes that produce heat. This is physics.

Of course, many obstacles to a CNT system usable energy still need to be vaulted, and the ability to produce beams of high concentration of nanotubes. So do not expect to pick up dry cleaning on a nanotube SUV power for many, many years to come.