 graphite or carbonaceous materials as one of the elec- trodes. Reactions occurring at the electrodes create a flow of electrons that generate and store energy. The UNC scientists created single-wall carbon nanotubes by subjecting a carbon target to intense laser beams. By chemical processing, the researchers were able to open the closed ends of the nanotubes and reduce their lengths. "This allows the diffusion of lithium ions into the interior space of the nanotubes and reduces the diffusion time," Zhou says. "We believe this is the reason for the enhanced storage capacity." Better batteries are possible because the team found a significantly higher energy density, he says. "We have shown this for the first time experimentally," says Zhou. "Now, we'll have to work on and overcome other practical issues before we can make real devices, but we are very optimistic." 8.1.2 Thin Films Research being conducted at Ohio State University could lead to PDAs and other mobile devices featuring enhanced displays and the ability to run off of solar power. Steven Ringel, an Ohio State professor of electrical engineering, and his colleagues have created unique hybrid materials that are virtually defect- free-an important first step for making ultra-efficient electronics. The same technology could also lead to faster, less expensive computer chips. Ringel directs Ohio State's Electronic Materials and Devices Laboratory, where he and his staff grow thin films of "III-V" semiconductors-materials made from elements such as gallium and arsenic, which reside in groups III and V of the chemical periodic table. Because III-V materials absorb and emit light much more efficiently than silicon, these materials could bridge the gap between traditional silicon computer chips and light-related technologies, such as lasers, displays, and fiber optics. Researchers have tried for years to combine III-V materials with silicon but have achieved only limited success. Now that Ringel has succeeded in pro- ducing the combination with high quality, h