Innovative High-Performance Fiber Batteries
Chinese scientists have unveiled a revolutionary development in portable charging with the creation of handbags and fabrics that can power electronic devices. These remarkable products feature high-performance fiber batteries integrated into their design.
Overcoming Challenges with Polymer Gel Electrolyte
To develop these batteries, researchers replaced traditional liquid electrolytes with polymer gel electrolytes for enhanced safety and flexibility. However, poor interfacial contact between the polymer gel electrolyte and electrodes limited electrochemical performance, particularly under deformation.
Inspiration from Nature: Climbing Ivy Vines
After years of research, Professor Peng Huisheng of Fudan University, China, drew inspiration from the twining ivy vines that tightly wrap around trees. He noticed that vines secrete a liquid that enhances wettability, allowing it to penetrate the porous structure at the contact surface between the two plants, facilitating adhesion and entanglement.
Textile Batteries with Enhanced Energy Density
Inspired by this natural phenomenon, the research team designed a channel structure within the electrodes to accommodate the polymer gel electrolyte, creating stable and conformal interfaces for the wearable batteries. Utilizing this approach, they successfully fabricated kilometer-long lithium-ion fiber batteries with an energy density of 128 watt-hours per kilogram, capable of powering high-power devices such as drones.
Practical Applications: Fabrics and Bags for Device Charging
These fiber batteries were subsequently integrated into fabrics and handbags, enabling them to charge mobile phones and other wearable devices such as smartwatches. At a recent press conference, the research team demonstrated a seemingly ordinary piece of fabric and a handbag that could instantly charge mobile phones when placed inside.
Potential Applications in Extreme Environments
Professor Peng Huisheng highlighted the establishment of a pilot production line capable of producing 300 watt-hours of power, sufficient to simultaneously charge 20 mobile phones. The technology also holds promise for powering heated clothing in winter conditions.
Additionally, it has potential applications in firefighting, disaster relief, polar expeditions, and aerospace. The groundbreaking research was published this week in the renowned journal Nature.