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Researchers at Linköping University have made significant strides in battery technology by designing a fluid-based electrode system that allows for unprecedented flexibility and adaptability. This innovative battery can be molded into practically any shape, paving the way for novel applications in emerging technologies. Their findings have been detailed in the journal Science Advances.
Aiman Rahmanudin, an assistant professor at Linköping University, describes the texture of the battery material as similar to toothpaste. This unique formulation enables the use of 3D printing technology to create batteries tailored to specific shapes and requirements, signaling a transformative leap in battery design.
As we approach a future where over a trillion devices are expected to connect to the Internet within the next decade, the landscape of technology will include a wide array of gadgets beyond traditional electronics like smartphones and computers. These will encompass wearable medical devices such as insulin pumps, pacemakers, and health-monitoring sensors, along with advancements in soft robotics, electronic textiles, and even interconnected nerve implants.
In order to support the seamless functionality of these devices, innovative battery solutions must be developed.
Rahmanudin emphasizes that batteries are the primary component of electronic devices, and with their current rigid and bulky nature, they impose design restrictions. However, the introduction of a soft and conformable battery can eliminate these limitations, allowing for a new paradigm in user-specific electronics.
Working alongside his team at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics (LOE), Rahmanudin has created a malleable battery through a pioneering method that transforms traditional solid electrodes into a liquid state.
Prior initiatives aimed at developing soft and stretchable batteries primarily utilized mechanical functions, including rubbery composites or sliding connections. However, this approach did not address the fundamental issue: larger batteries offer greater capacity, but with increased active materials come thicker electrodes, resulting in greater rigidity.
“Our research addresses this challenge, demonstrating for the first time that a battery’s capacity can remain independent of its rigidity,” states Rahmanudin.
Although fluid electrodes have previously been explored, they faced challenges in functionality. Earlier attempts utilized liquid metals like gallium, which could only serve as an anode and risked solidification during charge cycles, compromising their fluid nature. Moreover, many previously developed stretchable batteries relied on rare materials with significant environmental costs associated with their extraction and processing.
Instead, the team at LiU Campus Norrköping has utilized conductive plastics (conjugated polymers) and lignin, a byproduct of the paper industry, to construct their soft battery. This battery boasts a remarkable longevity, capable of being charged and discharged over 500 times while maintaining consistent performance. It also retains functionality when stretched to twice its original length.
“By using materials like conjugated polymers and lignin, which are widely available, we are not only creating value from a byproduct but also advancing toward a more sustainable and circular economy,” comments Mohsen Mohammadi, a postdoctoral fellow at LOE and one of the study’s lead authors.
The research team is now focused on improving the electrical voltage of the battery. According to Rahmanudin, they are currently facing some limitations that need to be addressed.
“While our battery demonstrates the potential of this concept, we acknowledge that enhancements are necessary. Currently, the voltage is 0.9 volts, and our next steps involve experimenting with various chemical compounds to boost this figure. One approach we are considering is the inclusion of zinc or manganese, which are both commonly found in the Earth’s crust,” concludes Rahmanudin.
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