While trying to find a better way to make graphene, these guys discovered a way to make carbon-based super capacitors that could conceivably be used instead of batteries:

http://vimeo.com/51873011

Very interesting, although I'm not sold on the battery application.  Although a capacitor (and supercapacitor) can charge very quickly, they also DISCHARGE very quickly.  So while your cell phone may only take 30 seconds to charge fully, it might only last for ten minutes.  Not really practical.