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Researchers have developed a lithium-ion battery whose components are as elastic as rubber. This means they can be bent, stretched or twisted without losing their properties.
The electrification of many areas is a central part of the energy transition to enable the switch from fossil fuels to clean electricity sources. The more traffic, industry and households are powered by electricity, the greater the demand for renewable energy and flexible storage options.
Lithium-ion batteries are used particularly frequently. According to estimates The installed capacity of lithium-ion storage is expected to be 4.2 terawatt hours by 2030.
Battery research is therefore working hard to make batteries more efficient, longer lasting and more flexible. This is the only way to meet growing demand in the future.
At the same time, battery research is opening up new technologies, such as flexible or stretchable batteries, which enable completely new areas of application. Having such an expandable lithium-ion battery Researchers from China’s Nanjing University developed.
Flexible battery is reminiscent of rubber
The lithium-ion battery developed by the Chinese researchers can continue to function even under severe overstretching with the help of elastic electrolytes and stretchable electrodes. According to the researchers, elongation of up to 5,000 percent could be achieved in laboratory tests.
The electrical functionality is retained even if the material is doubled in length. The development could offer potential for use in intelligent textiles or implantable medical sensors.
The Chinese researchers’ stretchable battery would be suitable for this because it can be stretched a lot like a rubber band. It still delivers a constant capacity over numerous charging cycles.
To do this, the researchers used an elastic polymer electrolyte that takes on a rubber-like state when exposed to ultraviolet irradiation. Lithium ions can be transported in this, but at the same time the material is extremely stretchy.
The researchers also use flexible materials for the electrodes – because they also have to be able to withstand external influences. To achieve this, they apply carbon black and silver nanowires to a substrate that is also coated with a silicone polymer. This also makes the electrodes flexible.
How powerful is the flexible battery?
The stretchable battery developed by the Chinese researchers can store about six times more energy during fast charging compared to a battery with traditional liquid electrolytes. It delivers constant energy even with frequent loading and unloading.
In their tests, the researchers were able to show that the battery with the elastic electrolytes can last up to 1,000 cycles. In the first 30 cycles, it only lost around one percent of its capacity. The comparison battery with liquid electrolyte, however, lost 16 percent of its capacity under the same conditions.
However, the researchers’ tests have so far only been carried out under laboratory conditions. The capacity of the stretchable prototypes also visibly reduces after a few dozen cycles. Nevertheless, in the future, the stretchable battery could represent a special solution for certain areas of application where flexibility is particularly important.
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As a Tech Industry expert, I am impressed by the development of flexible lithium-ion batteries by researchers. This advancement has the potential to revolutionize the way we use and interact with technology. The flexibility of these batteries opens up a whole new world of possibilities for innovative product design and functionality.
Flexible lithium-ion batteries could be used in a wide range of applications, from wearable devices to foldable smartphones to medical implants. This technology could also lead to the development of more efficient and powerful batteries that are lightweight and durable.
I believe that the future of technology lies in flexible and adaptable solutions, and the development of flexible lithium-ion batteries is a significant step in that direction. I look forward to seeing how this technology evolves and the impact it will have on the tech industry as a whole.
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