The future of wearable technology may have just taken a significant leap forward with the introduction of stretchable fabric-based lithium-ion batteries.
A team of researchers at the University of Houston (UH) has successfully developed a fully functional prototype of this innovative battery, opening up exciting possibilities for the world of smart fabrics and interactive clothing.
French scientist Anna Vanderbruggen stands in a laboratory of the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology in Freiberg, eastern Germany on February 27, 2023.
Science-Fiction-Like Future of Clothes
The brainchild of this battery is Haleh Ardebili, a Bill D. Cook Professor of Mechanical Engineering at UH, the idea behind the stretchable batteries came from envisioning a science-fiction-like future where our clothes are not only smart and interactive but also powered.
This significant advancement seeks to tackle a crucial obstacle in the progression of wearable technology: the rigidity of conventional batteries that restricts the functionality of wearable devices and the safety concerns arising from their liquid electrolyte.
"As a big science fiction fan, I could envision a 'science-fiction-esque future' where our clothes are smart, interactive and powered. It seemed a natural next step to create and integrate stretchable batteries with stretchable devices and clothing," Ardebili said in a statement.
The researchers achieved their breakthrough by utilizing conductive silver fabric as a platform and current collector for the battery. This weaved silver fabric proved ideal for the project, as it can deform or stretch while providing essential electrical conduction pathways for the battery electrode to function efficiently.
By converting rigid lithium-ion battery electrodes into wearable, fabric-based, flexible, and stretchable counterparts, this innovation promises stable performance and increased safety for wearable devices and implantable biosensors.
Potential Applications
The idea of stretchable batteries first captivated Ardebili's interest as she delved into exploring the science and mechanisms of stretching an electrochemical cell and its components.
This uncharted territory in science and engineering offered a promising avenue for investigation. Although the researchers have successfully created a prototype, they are committed to further optimizing the battery design, materials, and fabrication.
The ultimate goal is to enhance the commercial viability of these stretchable batteries, ensuring they are scalable, cost-effective, and safe for widespread use.
The potential applications of stretchable fabric-based batteries are vast and exciting. The possibilities are boundless, from smart space suits to consumer electronics embedded in garments for health monitoring.
However, before they become available in the market, the researchers focus on addressing various considerations, including manufacturability, cost, and safety. Ardebili's priority is to ensure the batteries are reliable and secure, regardless of the applications they eventually power.
By making these batteries as safe as possible, the researchers aim to unlock the full potential of wearable technology, offering us a glimpse into a future where our clothes can do so much more than simply cover us. The findings of the team were published in Extreme Mechanics Letters.
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