Stretchy Battery

The last few years have seen amazing advancements in flexible electronics – from flexible displays to sensors that are printed directly on the skin. The batteries that power them, however, have presented a somewhat greater challenge, mainly because it’s difficult to modify their dimensions without affecting performance.

A new concept in battery design was recently demonstrated that allows it to stretch up to three times its size. It utilizes small “islands” of energy storing materials spaced out on a stretchy polymer substrate. Connections are closely arranged in a serpentine pattern with wires that loop back on themselves in S-shapes. As the polymer is stretched, the turns can straighten out without becoming taut or damaging the conductors. The battery is designed to be charged inductively – using wireless energy transfer over a short distance.