Premium
Stretchable Polymerized High Internal Phase Emulsion Separators for High Performance Soft Batteries
Author(s) -
Danninger Doris,
Hartmann Florian,
Paschinger Werner,
Pruckner Roland,
Schwödiauer Reinhard,
Demchyshyn Stepan,
Bismarck Alexander,
Bauer Siegfried,
Kaltenbrunner Martin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.202000467
Subject(s) - separator (oil production) , materials science , internal resistance , electronics , stretchable electronics , battery (electricity) , electrolyte , soft robotics , energy storage , conformable matrix , nanotechnology , electrode , robot , electrical engineering , composite material , computer science , power (physics) , engineering , chemistry , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence , thermodynamics , physics
Powering soft embodiments of robots, machines and electronics is a key issue that impacts emerging human friendly forms of technologies. Batteries as energy source enable their untethered operation at high power density but must be rendered elastic to fully comply with (soft) robots and human beings. Current intrinsically stretchable batteries typically show decreased performance when deformed due to design limitations, mainly imposed by the separator material. High quality stretchable separators such as gel electrolytes represent a key component of soft batteries that affects power, internal resistance, and capacity independently of battery chemistry. Here, polymerized high internal phase emulsions (polyHIPEs) are introduced as highly ionically conductive separators in stretchable (rechargeable) batteries. Highly porous (>80%) separators result in electrolyte to polyHIPE conductivity ratios of below 2, while maintaining stretchability of ≈50% strain. The high stretchability, tunable porosity, and fast ion transport enable stretchable batteries with internal resistance below 3 Ω and 16.8 mAh cm −2 capacity that power on‐skin processing and communication electronics. The battery/separator architecture is universally applicable to boost battery performance and represents a step towards autonomous operation of conformable electronic skins for healthcare, robotics, and consumers.