A Stretchable Battery Technology

可伸缩电源是新兴的可穿戴和植入式设备领域的关键部件。基于刚性和易碎材料的传统电子系统不太适合此类应用，因为它们在设备和人体之间产生机械不匹配，不能符合任何几何形状，导致不适，设计中的形状因素受限，并可能对人体组织造成损害。近年来，可拉伸半导体和可拉伸电极领域取得了很大进展，而可拉伸电源方面的进展相对滞后。在可穿戴和可植入技术的新应用的推动下，人们对可拉伸电池制造的兴趣激增，重点是向全形状符合设备的方向发展，而可拉伸电池是需要创新的关键组件。

Stretchable power sources are a key component in the emerging field of wearable and implantable devices. Traditional electronic systems based on rigid and fragile materials are not well suited to such applications as they produce mechanical mismatch between the device and human body and cannot conform to any geometry, resulting in discomfort, restricted form factors in design, and possible damage to human tissue. In recent years, much progress has been made in the area of stretchable semiconductors and electrodes, while progress on stretchable power sources has lagged behind. A new surge in interest in the manufacture of stretchable batteries, catalyzed by new applications of wearable and implantable technologies, focuses on the move towards fully-shape conforming devices, and stretchable batteries are a key component that requires innovation. Our team has developed the StretchPower battery, a mild aqueous battery system, to support transition of the wearables industry to fully shape-conforming devices. The device uses zinc and manganese (IV) as the primary metals involved in electroactivity, with a bismuth/zinc amalgam to improve cycle life and voltage output. Every component of a shape-conforming device must be able to bend and stretch to a significant degree. Our battery offers significant flexibility and stretchability with negligible effect on performance and a small battery footprint (i.e., a small volume compared to the powered device). This I2I Phase 1 grant will support the development of two full-scale prototypes that target specific market segments and also support the optimization of the battery performance to maximize its commercial potential.