The basic components needed for the exploding wire method are a thin conductive wire and a capacitor. The wire is typically gold, aluminum, iron or platinum, and is usually less than 0.5mm5 mm in diameter. The capacitor has an energy consumption of about 25 kWh/kg and discharges a pulse of charge density 10<sup>4</sup> - 10<sup>6</sup> A/mm<sup>2</sup>,<ref name=prepnano>{{cite journal |last1=Kotov |first1=Yu |title=Electric explosion of wires as a method for preparation of nanopowders |journal=Journal of Nanoparticle Research |date=2003 |issue=5 |url=http://cms.springerprofessional.de/journals/JOU=11051/VOL=2003.5/ISU=5-6/ART=5140986/BodyRef/PDF/11051_2004_Article_5140986.pdf |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215001933/http://cms.springerprofessional.de/journals/JOU%3D11051/VOL%3D2003.5/ISU%3D5-6/ART%3D5140986/BodyRef/PDF/11051_2004_Article_5140986.pdf |archivedate=2014-12-15 |df= }}</ref> leading to temperatures up to 100,000 [[Kelvin|K]]. The phenomenon occurs over a time period of only 10<sup>−5−8</sup> - 10<sup>−8−5</sup> seconds.<ref name=naz>{{cite journal|last1=Nazatenko |first1=O |title=Nanopowders produced by electrical explosion of wires |journal=Dept. of Exology Tomsk Polytechnic University |date=16 September 2007 |url=http://ecce6.kt.dtu.dk/cm/upload/769.pdf |accessdate=6 November 2014 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129053237/http://ecce6.kt.dtu.dk/cm/upload/769.pdf |archivedate=29 November 2014 |df= }}</ref>
