This massively increases their surface area and hence the charge they can hold, but without impairing the physical strength of the material.

ECONOMIST: Carbon-composite batteries

The controller allows a Qi-compliant smartphone or other portable device to charge in a surface area of at least 70 mm by 20 mm, 400-percent larger compared to today's 18-mm by 18-mm "bull's-eye" charge space.

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This microscopic scale and sensitivity allows the sensor to map a high-resolution image of electrical charge that occurs over the surface of a source material (for example a human finger), when it makes contact with a thin insulating surface (ie a plastic surface).

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The amount of charge that can be stored depends on the surface area of the electrodes, the strength and composition of the insulation between them, and how close they are together.

ECONOMIST: Electricity storage

The ions pass through a charge-specific membrane and are adsorbed onto the surface of the electrode.

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On the glorious surface, little has changed at this grand dame, but when it comes time to charge your phone and you find a convenient bank of international outlets that require no adaptors, you will appreciate the investment.

FORBES: Peninsula, Hong Kong

To understand the mechanism, Dr Clarke and his collaborators made a synthetic version of the bacterium and discovered that the organism generated a charge, and effected a chemical change, when in direct contact with the mineral surface.

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Smit, which in charge of salvaging Prestige before it sank, said the operation - to pump the oil back to the surface - would cost nearly 50m euros and take several months to complete.

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