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.
Good point, I think I am with you there and am finding this out by having too many devices! I have both an iPad and a smartphone, and I find I use my smartphone much more and my iPad hardly at all, since I can do mostly the same things with my smartphone anyway. All in one is probably the best way to go, and the smaller and more flexible, the better.
Elizebeth, I would like to prefer an All – in – one device, which is more compactable and handy. Such all in one device can avoid the usage of many independent devices for each functionality.
Ann, now we have both the technologies, for flexible devices (flexible battery, screen etc) and tiny devices (small and wearable). So what I meant is which one is preferable for human advancement.
Yes, Mydesign, that is always the question--whether we NEED any of these new-fangled devices. Well, as someone of the "less is more" persuasion, I would say we don't really NEED many things, especially new gadgets that will probably be quite expensive and end up in a pile with all the other gadgets we have. But will we want them and buy them? Probably. And are they cool and interesting to think about as we marvel over the cleverless of the design and the people working these devices? Most definitely.
"I think that's a brilliant idea. I've heard about flexible signage and using flexible solar panels on windows, and now we have flexible batteries, but combining them all together into a flexible, foldable, stowable tent sounds great."
Ann, great idea. But I think humans won't be that much flexible because of strong backbone (grin). Now the question is whether we need a flexible device or tiny, hand devices?
Elizabeth, yes you are right. Now the question is when we can expect it or in reality. I think some of the latest offerings like thin client laptops can pave the way for that.
Watashi, I think that's a brilliant idea. I've heard about flexible signage and using flexible solar panels on windows, and now we have flexible batteries, but combining them all together into a flexible, foldable, stowable tent sounds great.
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