Just got through watching an episode of CSI NY. In tonight's episode they had someone take a tiny battery from a PDA type device (obviously a Lithium Ion cell), and then break it open to release sulphuric acid, to use to eat through a 1 1/4" steel bar in a prison cell door.

First, Lithium Ion (or even Lithium Polymer) batteries do not contain sulphuric acid. That's going to be a lead acid battery, AKA something from a car or a UPS. The "paste" they got out was obviously supposed to be a lead acid gell composition.

Second, they managed to extract maybe 1/4 teaspoon of it, which is not going to eat through that much solid steel. They'd be lucky to get through the paint. And even if they had a stack of car batteries to use, that still wouldn't be enough.