The scientists turned lithium-ion battery materials, such as copper, into a sprayable liquid form, which can be applied to any surface and turn it into an energy storage device.
While gadget hounds delighted in the new iPad, materials-science geeks lamented the continuing dominance of power-hungry liquid-crystal displays that use heavy pieces of glass.
He said he believed his liquid air engine would prevail against other storage technologies because it did not rely on potentially scarce materials for batteries.
The investigators collected samples of burned materials from the house and sent them to a laboratory that could detect the presence of a liquid accelerant.