Scientists have developed a stretchable jelly battery and were inspired by electric eels. The technology could permanently change many devices and even has potential for brain implants.
Scientists recently found inspiration in electric eels’ electrical shock abilities. The result is an expandable jelly battery. This is ideal for wearable devices or soft robotics. According to the publication The batteries could even be useful for brain implants and targeted drug delivery to treat epilepsy and other diseases.
However, there are still no tests on living organisms. Electric eels generate their electrical discharges through modified muscle cells called electrocytes. These cells produce a current similar to a battery with stacked plates when the brain activates them with signals. Researchers found that electric eels can use different voltages to either chase prey or stun and kill it.
Jelly battery clings to the skin thanks to hydrogel
The Volta electric eel can produce a discharge of up to 860 volts. For applications in soft robotics or wearable electronics, stretchable and soft devices with tissue-like electronic properties are essential. However, it is difficult to design a material that is both stretchable and conductive. The researchers therefore based their work on the layered structure of the electrocytes of electric eels.
Instead of using rigid materials that use electrons as charge carriers, the batteries use ions, similar to electric eels. The team chose hydrogels as a material, which consist of 60 percent water. This allows researchers to precisely control the mechanical properties and imitate human skin. They modified the hydrogels to form a sticky layer that holds multiple layers together, building up a higher energy potential.
Will our devices be flexible in the future?
Reversible bonds hold the individual layers together. These allow the batteries to stretch without losing their conductivity. In a related study, scientists developed a lithium-ion battery with stretchable components, including an electrolyte layer that can expand by 5,000 percent. This battery can maintain its charge capacity after almost 70 charge/discharge cycles.
In contrast to traditional liquid electrolytes, an electrolyte has been integrated into a polymer layer that lies between two flexible electrode films. The development could be groundbreaking for future portable electronic devices and medical applications. In the long term, devices could be created that are flexible and powerful at the same time.
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The post Jelly battery: Researchers develop a new type of battery – inspired by electric eels by Felix Baumann appeared first on BASIC thinking. Follow us too Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
As a Tech Industry expert, I find the development of a Jelly battery inspired by electric eels to be a fascinating innovation. The use of organic materials and bio-inspired design in battery technology is a promising avenue for creating more sustainable and efficient energy storage solutions. The potential for increased energy density and longer lifespan in these Jelly batteries could have significant implications for a wide range of applications, from consumer electronics to electric vehicles.
I am excited to see how this technology progresses and if it can overcome any potential challenges, such as scalability and cost-effectiveness, to become a viable alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries. The intersection of biology and technology in the development of Jelly batteries represents a cutting-edge approach that holds great promise for the future of energy storage. I will be closely following any advancements in this field and look forward to seeing how this innovation may revolutionize the battery industry.
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