Specialists of the University of British Columbia (UBC) told about creating a flexible battery, designed for washing, for wearable devices of the future. This is reported on the organization’s website.
The invention is based on the replacement of solid elements in the shell of batteries to elastic and sealing them into a flexible polymer. The resulting battery consists of ultra-thin layers of polymers enclosed in the body. The design not only can take any form, but also protects the battery from contact with liquids.
According to the creator of Dr. Ngok Tan Nguyen’s battery (NGOC TAN NGUYEN), the wearable electronics market is extremely promising and in the invention of the flexible battery. The scientist explained that for the sake of the elastic form of the battery, its key compounds – zinc dioxide and manganese – had to grind into small fractions and pour polymeric material.
Scientists have confirmed the flexibility and waterproof battery using tests in the washing machine. Experts held 39 washing cycles in domestic and industrial washing machines and noticed that the battery prototype remained integer. Tang Nguyen also explained that the selection of the chemical composition of zinc dioxide and manganese is explained by the fact that a similar battery has a safer chemical composition than lithium-ion batteries. In this regard, the battery can be used close to the body, for example, in smart clothes.
Currently, UBC specialists work on an increase in capacity and battery life. According to them, the production of such elements for wearable gadgets will be available due to the cheapness of the components.
In September, the Israeli company Storedot introduced a prototype of a car battery charged in ten minutes. The increase in the charge rate was achieved by replacing graphite in the anode element on metaloid nanoparticles, such as silicon.