Scientists in Israel have invented a flexible battery which can be 'printed out' onto paper and plastic.
The Power Paper battery works on the same principles as a normal alkaline battery.
But the exact mix of chemicals is what makes it unique, say its makers.
Mr Baruch Levanon, chief executive officer and co-founder of the company, says it results in battery materials that are like printers' ink. They can be 'printed' on to plastic, paper or any other flexible material. The resulting battery is about half a millimetre thick.
Mr Levanon says the company has produced printed batteries that can generate about 1.5 volts - similar to most conventional batteries. But since the battery is fairly thin, how long it lasts is proportional to its area.
To produce as much power as a standard AA-sized battery, for instance, would require a Power Paper battery of about a square foot in size.
"We can get quite substantial capacities," Mr Levanon said. "But we're designed for medium- to low-energy requirements."
Power Paper batteries can be used in so-called smart cards - plastic cards that contain microprocessor chips. Current smart cards require a separate card reader to display the information stored on the chips. But with a flexible battery, smart-card makers could include a tiny display screen on the card itself.
Power Paper also envisions its battery could be used in airport security. Luggage tags and airline tickets could be printed with tiny radio antennas and circuitry to contain passenger data. Checkpoints with radio receivers would then be able to track passengers and baggage as they move through the airport.