Our wearables and other gadgets are going to become more flexible in the future. Their batteries need to evolve for that to happen. Nanoengineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a battery that is flexible, bendable, and rechargeable. It can power wearable sensors and all kinds of electronics:
The researchers made the printed batteries flexible and stretchable by incorporating a hyper-elastic polymer material made from isoprene, one of the main ingredients in rubber, and polystyrene, a resin-like component. The substance, known as SIS, allows the batteries to stretch to twice their size, in any direction, without suffering damage.
These batteries are thin and can be printed on fabric or as a strip to power wearables. The researchers will continue to work on improving the battery’s performance. More info is available here.
