Successful research of flexible batteries can be printed on any fabric

The potential of new flexible batteries on smart clothes, sportswear or high-tech military applications will be huge in the future.

As the Internet of Things (IoT) trend is increasingly booming, and at the same time paving the way for more advanced technology applications, manufacturers face a new obstacle. It is a limitation on the quality and battery size when integrated on devices. But long ago, researchers are trying to solve this problem by developing a battery that can be printed directly onto fabric.

This battery can be printed directly onto fabric.

Nazmul Karim, co-author of research at the University. Manchester, the United Kingdom, and their colleagues sought to develop a new battery technology that can be printed on all fabrics.

Usually supercapacitors are responsible for powering wearable devices when using conventional batteries. But with this study, the development team used a solid state super flexible capacitor. These capacitors, printed with graphene-oxide ink, can conduct electricity on cotton surfaces.

The choice of cotton or cotton in research is due to the good interaction of this material with graphene-oxide ink. Thus, the stability of the electrodes is always guaranteed to the maximum.

These capacitors, printed with graphene-oxide ink, can conduct electricity on cotton surfaces.

As the technology for pin printing on canvas becomes popular, we will soon see major changes in wearable equipment, sportswear technology or military applications. Even Dr. Karim's prediction, future doctors can diagnose and monitor patients with high-tech foxes.

The prospect of the technology is not without foundation when the cost of producing graphene-oxide inks is relatively low. That's not to mention that this flexible battery can be easily removed and cleaned.

Inkjet printing is one of the most promising techniques for making these batteries.

Inkjet printing is one of the most promising techniques for making these batteries for smart wearable devices. This technique proved to be superior to traditional production techniques such as molds or digital methods. At the same time inkjet printing also helps reduce waste of materials, waste and increase compatibility with many different types of substrates.

The research has been published in the recent 2D Materials magazine.