At a basic level, a battery is composed of three main elements: the anode (the positive terminal), the cathode (the negative terminal), and the electrolyte (a solid or liquid chemical that stores electrical energy) which fills the battery between these two terminals. In ordinary Lithium-ion batteries, it is an all too common problem that the lithium in the battery can crystallize into dendrites – microscopic fibers that expand into the electrolyte, and can eventually short-circuit the battery, significantly reduce battery life or, worse, causing the battery to catch fire.

However, lithium is also one of the most conductive and efficient metals to use as a battery anode and for many years scientists and other researchers have been trying to find a way to utilize this metal while avoiding the problems inherent in its use. This is where the Stanford team's carbon nanospheres have been put to good use; by coating the lithium so that it does not degrade within the electrolyte, the reserachers claim to be able to use lithium as a battery anode for the very first time.