For years, portable power banks have followed a predictable formula: pack as much battery as possible, add a bunch of ports, occasionally throw in a display, and then slap a heavy plastic shell around the whole thing. The result is usually a bulky brick that weighs as much as a small smartphone. Nitecore's NB10000 Gen 4 power bank takes a different approach. It strips away all the non-essentials, uses advanced silicon-carbon battery chemistry, and wraps the internal cell in a carbon fiber shell. The result is the lightest and most compact 10,000mAh power bank we have ever handled.

At just 146 grams, the NB10000 Gen 4 feels almost too light to be real. Even with the included braided USB-C lanyard cable, which adds 6 grams, the total package weighs 152 grams. To put that in perspective, many 5,000mAh power banks weigh more than that. The dimensions are equally impressive: 1.45 x 11.6 x 4.68cm (0.57 x 4.57 x 1.84 inches). It is about the size of a stick of gum, just thicker. This is the kind of power bank you can forget is in your pocket.

The Battery Breakthrough

The magic behind the NB10000 Gen 4 is the silicon-carbon anode. Traditional lithium-ion batteries use a graphite anode, which has a lower theoretical energy density. Silicon can hold much more lithium ions per unit volume, but it expands significantly during charging. By combining silicon with carbon, manufacturers can create a stable anode that offers the benefits of silicon without the structural issues. This is the same technology that has allowed smartphone makers like Samsung to increase battery capacity without increasing the physical footprint of their phones.

In a power bank, silicon-carbon anodes are a relatively new development. Almost all existing power banks on the market still use cylindrical 18650 or 21700 cells,

Source:The Verge News