Alla, Aminy, Michael, Jerica, Igal, and Balthazar’s on flexible and stretchable power sources got published in Science Advances

Paper title: Flexible and stretchable power sources for wearable electronics

Abstract: 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.

Publication:

1. 
   Flexible and stretchable power sources for wearable electronics Alla M. Zamarayeva, Aminy E. Ostfeld, Michael Wang, Jerica K. Duey, Igal Deckman, Balthazar P. Lechêne, Greg Davies, Daniel A. Steingart, and Ana Claudia Arias Science Advances, 2017 3, 6. [Abstract] [Bibtex] [PDF]

   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.

   @article{zamarayeva2017flexible, author = {Zamarayeva, Alla M. and Ostfeld, Aminy E. and Wang, Michael and Duey, Jerica K. and Deckman, Igal and Lech{\^e}ne, Balthazar P. and Davies, Greg and Steingart, Daniel A. and Arias, Ana Claudia}, title = {Flexible and stretchable power sources for wearable electronics}, volume = {3}, number = {6}, year = {2017}, doi = {10.1126/sciadv.1602051}, publisher = {American Association for the Advancement of Science}, url = {http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/6/e1602051}, eprint = {http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/6/e1602051.full.pdf}, journal = {Science Advances}, thumbnail = {zamarayeva2017flexible.png}, pdf = {zamarayeva2017flexible.pdf} }