article_snippet: Researchers have developed a way of turning the so-called 'packing peanuts' into carbon, which can then be added to the types of lithium batteries used in everyday gadgets.
article_snippet: Researchers have developed a way of turning  so-called 'packing peanuts' (pictured) into carbon, which can then be added to the kinds of lithium batteries in everyday gadgets.
article_snippet: blocks of black carbon were then flattened into microsheets and nanoparticles, which in turn were added as anodes to lithium batteries.
article_snippet: blocks of black carbon had a lithium-ion storage capacity of 420 mAh per gram.
article_snippet: blocks of black carbon were then flattened into microsheets and nanoparticles, which in turn were added as anodes to lithium batteries.
article_snippet: blocks of black carbon had a lithium-ion storage capacity of 420 mAh per gram.
article_snippet: blocks of black carbon were then flattened into microsheets (pictured) and nanoparticles, which in turn were added as anodes to lithium batteries .
article_snippet: Drs Pol and Etacheri then tested the microsheets and nanoparticles as anodes in rechargeable lithium ion batteries.
article_snippet: The lithium ions move between the electrodes during charging and discharging and The researchers at Purdue University said The researchers at Purdue University anode works so well 'their anode outperforms commercial [anodes], with a storage capacity higher than graphite, a typical anode material.'
article_snippet: Drs Pol hopes Drs Pol group's new, scalable process could have carbon microsheets and nanoparticles ready for commercial use in batteries (pictured) within two years . '
article_snippet: Drs Pol hopes his group's new, scalable process could have carbon microsheets and nanoparticles ready for commercial use in batteries within two years.
highlights_snippet: carbon blocks were flattened to make microsheets and nanoparticles .
  
highlights_snippet: Such sheets and particles can then be added as anodes in lithium batteries .