Researchers at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology in Korea have developed an imprintable and bendable lithium-ion battery that they claim is the world's first, and could hasten the introduction of flexible smartphones that leverage flexible display technology, such as Samsung's Youm flexible OLED.
Samsung first demonstrated this display technology at CES 2013 as the next step in the evolution of mobile-device displays. The battery could also potentially be used in other flexible devices that debuted at the show, such as a wristwatch and a tablet.
Researchers at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology in Korea have developed, what they claim to be, the world's first imprintable and bendable lithium-ion battery. The move should hasten the adoption of mobile devices with flexible displays, such as Samsung’s Youm flexible OLED, and potentially other flexible devices that are beginning to emerge.
Ulsan researchers had help on the technology from Professor John A. Rogers of the University of Illinois, researchers Young-Gi Lee and Gwangman Kim of Korea's Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, and researcher Eunhae Gil of Kangwon National University. Rogers was also part of the team that developed a breakthrough in transient electronics, or electronics that dissolve inside the body.
The key to the flexible battery technology lies in nanomaterials that can be applied to any surface to create fluid-like polymer electrolytes that are solid, not liquid, according to Ulsan researchers. This is in contrast to typical device lithium-ion batteries, which use liquefied electrolytes that are put in square-shaped cases. Researchers say this also makes the flexible battery more stable and less prone to overheating.
"Conventional lithium-ion batteries that use liquefied electrolytes had problems with safety as the film that separates the electrolytes may melt under heat, in which case the positive and negative may come in contact, causing an explosion," Lee told the Korean newspaper. "Because the new battery uses flexible but solid materials, and not liquids, it can be expected to show a much higher level of stability than conventional rechargeable batteries."
This potential explosiveness of the materials in lithium-ion batteries -- which in the past received attention because of exploding mobile devices -- has been in the news again recently in the case of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which has had several instances of liquid leaking lithium-ion batteries. The problems have grounded Boeing's next-generation jumbo jet until they are investigated and resolved.
True, Mydesign. I spent years (and still do sometimes) hauling around my bulky laptop on my back, to the detriment of my back, of course! Really look forward to the day when I can fold it up and tuck it away. More flexible material is much lighter as well.
Ann, if they are targeting only short-lived products then its fine, otherwise durability is a major concern. I personally feels that such advantages has to pass to all level of electronic application, irrespective of it's a short/long lived products.
Thanks, bobjengr. I didn't think of that, either, but RFID is definitely another application of this technology as it increases in use. That is another technology that has been simmering for years and has taken a bit of time to catch on but you're right, it seems to be making real moves now.
Great post Elizabeth. Also, I can see real application to RFID devices that are gaining greater use as complements and replacements for barcodes systems. These devices are dropping in costs and improving in effectiveness. Flexible battery technology is important and I would not be surprised if some form of commercialization is around the corner.
Good question, Al. Maybe one of readers knows of miniaturization work. I do know that all electronics manufacturers are knocking themselves out to reduce MCU current consumption, and therby reduce the number of batteries that are needed. I'm constantly hearing about devices that get taken down from two or three coin cells to a single coin cell.
Just wondering if anyone knows about any significant work being done with the miniaturization of battery technology? Obvious product designs are managing energy usage like never before, and there is an emphasis on efficiency. I would think that smaller sizes would be a way to help achieve the goal of making mobile devices more portable wearable.
Couple this with the flexible solar panels and LEDs that are in development and you could have a tent with pre-installed lighting and convenience outlets!
Mydesign, good point about durability. I don't know about the battery technology, since that's somewhat newer, but I began covering flexible electronics about 15 years ago in the technology's early days. That tech is pretty well established--just hasn't been visible until now since many of its earlier uses were inside consumer and other devices: like sport watches, for instance, and other small devices containing electronics. That's how we got circuit boards inside the small stuff. Point is, I think a) the durability problems have been pretty well solved by now for flex circuits, and b) they mostly go into short-lived products.
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