Scientists Create High-Density, Flexible Lithium-Ion Batteries
One step closer to flexible electronics!
Earlier this year, LG detailed its project involving the creation of unbreakable, flexible OLED displays. Although the display probably won't be ready for at least another year, it looks like another group of Korean researchers have brought us one step closer to flexible electronics. Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have created what may be the world's first high density, flexible battery.
Although the battery is still under heavy research, the progress made puts us one giant step forward when it comes to the creation of flexible gadgets. With a stable high-performance flexible lithium-ion battery, the doors to flexible, bendable, wearable gadgets are wide open. We may be well on our way to seeing a fully-functional bendable tablet or smartphone in the coming years.
While bending the battery does have an adverse effect on its performance, the effect isn't enough to be a dealbreaker. The researchers tested the battery with a constant bend at a radius of sixteen millimeters, showing a drop in discharge capacity by about seven percent after 100 cycles, compared to a three percent drop while the battery is unbent.
The project still has a few hurdles to overcome, but the research is certainly promising. The leader of the research team, Prof. Keon Jae Lee told Gizmag, "There is no performance difference in energy density, capacity, and cycle life between our flexible battery and bulk batteries. On the contrary, performance is improved by about 10 percent because of the stress release effect."
No word on when we'll see this technology in our gadgets, but we're guessing it won't be too long until we see some flexible prototype gadgets on the loose.
KAIST Is not a company, it's a university! It's like saying Berkeley is a company... No sense, isn't it?
By the way it would fit great into some device such as Samsung Galaxy Skin!
I just hope Aple will not scream about idea patent infringement...
Yeah, but I guess it should increase shock-resistance, so that's a good thing...
If you drop your phone or tablet everything wont shatter is what i'm guessing.
Most new inventions where 'useless' at first.
When I bought my first 'computer ( A Sinclair ZX-81); all my friends decided I was nuts to spend a weeks salary on a silly toy.
I had my first 'cell phone' in 1984 (actually a car phone with a huge and expensive box in the trunk.
Everyone kept asking my... 'what is it good for'.
I bet someone will come up with a cool idea for those batteries and the rest of us will be wondering why 'we' did not think of it.
Gotta love technology ;-)
bendable means it can bend to the contours of your body, for instance. if they get it flexible enough, you could roll it up or fold it.
Now, there you have it! All this - of course - on e-paper and bendable e-gadgets
In electric/hybrid car, a battery that's able to bend would be less likely to break in a collision. Might even provide better shock absorption.
Designer watches that double as gadget of any kind with screen, apparel with screens in and or on it (yes there are some prototypes around but all have bulky battery in one of pockets), ebook readers that roll in and out of some casing with battery being integrated in screen, and so on. But also this tech will not be limited to making batteries that can flex, at the moment there are constraints about shape of batteries, they need to have specific internal structure, this will change that. So there will be irregular shaped batteries too.
Wearable bra and undies....play angry birds..if win game with 3 stars. Remove the part covering the titties from the screen!!!
This is a no-brainer: BENDER!
not to mention you can in places on car that other batteries can't go, like lets say, inside the curves of a car's frame
not to mention you can put it in places on car that other batteries can't go, like lets say, inside the curves of a car's frame
For example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Mtyx412eXo
I'm sure there could be many other things that could benefit from it.