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Bendable batteries designed

Modern electronics manufacturers are more and morebegan to turn their attention to flexible displays. By the way, how do you feel about this kind of gadget? Write your opinion in our chat in Telegram. In any case, devices with bending displays like the Samsung Galaxy Fold can even be bought if you wish. It is difficult to say whether this technology is the future of the development of mobile and not only technology, but any devices need power sources. The “gold standard” in this case is lithium-ion batteries, which, as we know, are completely unsuitable for bending. But it seems that a solution has been found, because a team of researchers from Zurich has created batteries that can be bent many times.

Flexible devices need equally flexible batteries. Otherwise, this technology makes little sense.

How is a flexible battery

According to Sciencedaily, the discoveryowned by scientists from the Federal Institute of Technology (ETN). Experts have developed a prototype flexible thin-film battery that can be bent, stretched and even twisted without interrupting the supply of energy. What makes this new battery special is its electrolyte. An electrolyte is that part of the battery through which lithium ions move when the battery is charging or discharging.

To date, no one has used exceptionally flexible components to create a lithium-ion battery, ”says one of the leading authors of the work, ETH professor Markus Niederberger.

This is what a prototype flexible battery looks like

The cathode and anode of the battery (negative andpositive contacts) consist of a flexible polymer made from electrically conductive carbon. It also serves as the outer shell. Inside, the battery is lined with a layer of silver plates superimposed on each other like tiles.

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Due to the fact that these plates are located“Overlap”, contact loss between battery parts does not occur even if the structure is stretched or twisted. Well, as an electrolyte, scientists used a special gel. Experts also emphasized that this gel is environmentally friendly than commercial counterparts used in conventional batteries.

New gel electrolyte contains high waterlithium salt concentration, which not only facilitates the flow of lithium ions between the cathode and anode during charging or discharging the battery, but also prevents it from electrochemical decomposition. This makes the battery more resistant to ignition and less toxic.

According to scientists, to optimize the newa flexible battery, more research is needed before the commercial application of the technology can be considered. Indeed, at this stage, a flexible lithium-ion battery is just a prototype. First of all, the team of experts will have to increase the amount of electrode material that it can hold, which will affect the final capacity.

After all these “irregularities,” the battery continues to work without problems.

Also, the question remains open untilto what extent it is possible to increase the thickness of the battery and the number of internal cells for storing charge without loss of power and flexibility. There are still a lot of nuances and scientists must find the “perfect balance” between all components so that the production of flexible batteries is justified not only from an economic point of view, but also in terms of functionality.