A nanowire battery is a lithium-ion battery with a stainless steel anode covered in silicon nanowires. It replaces the traditional graphite anode. Silicon, which stores ten times more lithium than graphite, offers the potential for increased energy density, thus reducing the mass of the battery. The large surface area further increases the anode's power density, allowing allows for fast charging and current delivery. The anode was invented by a team led by Yi Cui at Stanford University in 2007.