Flexible and stretchable power sources for wearable electronics

• Published in: Science advances Vol. 3; no. 6; p. e1602051
• Main Authors: Zamarayeva, Alla M, Ostfeld, Aminy E, Wang, Michael, Duey, Jerica K, Deckman, Igal, Lechêne, Balthazar P, Davies, Greg, Steingart, Daniel A, Arias, Ana Claudia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Association for the Advancement of Science 01-06-2017
• Subjects: Electric Power Supplies; Electrochemical Techniques; Electronics; Equipment Design; Mechanical Phenomena; SciAdv r-articles; Wearable Electronic Devices; Wearable Electronics; stretchable batteries; Wearable power sourses; integrated wearable power systems; flexible batteries
• ISSN: 2375-2548; 2375-2548
• DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1602051

Flexible and stretchable power sources represent a key technology for the realization of wearable electronics. Developing flexible and stretchable batteries with mechanical endurance that is on par with commercial standards and offer compliance while retaining safety remains a significant challenge. We present a unique approach that demonstrates mechanically robust, intrinsically safe silver-zinc batteries. This approach uses current collectors with enhanced mechanical design, such as helical springs and serpentines, as a structural support and backbone for all battery components. We show wire-shaped batteries based on helical band springs that are resilient to fatigue and retain electrochemical performance over 17,000 flexure cycles at a 0.5-cm bending radius. Serpentine-shaped batteries can be stretched with tunable degree and directionality while maintaining their specific capacity. Finally, the batteries are integrated, as a wearable device, with a photovoltaic module that enables recharging of the batteries.