Dr. Chanwoo Yang and Researcher Seong Ju Park from the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), alongside Prof. Jin Kon Kim and Dr. Keon-Woo Kim from POSTECH, have achieved a significant breakthrough in developing a compact energy storage device with exceptional elasticity. Their findings have been published in the esteemed journal 'npj Flexible Electronics'.

Figure 1. Highly deformable MSC.

Figure 1 shows the highly deformable MSC. The emergence of stretchable IT devices surpasses the era of foldable and rollable gadgets, demanding the creation of small, elastic energy storage solutions. Micro supercapacitors (MSCs) have emerged as crucial components for powering such devices due to their diminutive size. However, conventional solid metal current collectors, like gold (Au) [1], inherently lack stretchability, limiting their potential for deformation.

In this study, the team opted for gallium-indium liquid metal (EGaIn) [2] as the current collector for MSCs. EGaIn boasts high conductivity and, being liquid, offers exceptional deformability. Nonetheless, shaping EGaIn presented formidable technical hurdles. To surmount this challenge, the team devised a laser-based patterning method. By harnessing the intense energy of the laser, they could pattern EGaIn with precision, effectively employing it as the MSC's current collector.

Leveraging this technology, the researchers developed an MSC capable of enduring over 1,000 stretches and contractions without compromising energy storage performance. Moreover, this device exhibited consistent energy supply even when subjected to twisting, folding, or crumpling.

Dr. Yang emphasized the precision and efficiency afforded by laser technology, expressing optimism that this research will find applications across various industrial sectors, fostering the advancement and commercialization of elastic energy storage devices.

Source: National Research Council of Science & Technology

References:

1. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1043941
2. https://www.newswise.com/articles/kitech-develops-deformable-energy-storage-device-via-laser-technology

Cite this article:

Hana M (2024), Revolutionizing Elastic Energy Storage: Breakthrough in Stretchable Micro Supercapacitors, AnaTechmaz, pp. 949