Scientists Weave Batteries into Fabric

We’ve seen so-called “soft” electronics before, circuits made of conductive thread and durable, sewable electronic elements. But researchers have managed to take it to the next level. They have managed to make a battery into a fabric that can be sewn into other things.

Normal batteries are kept in metal cells because they are part liquid. The electrolytes used in most batteries are much too wet for use in anything but tightly-sealed metal capsules. But the researcher managed to omit the liquid electrolytes, replacing them instead with a physical thermoplastic material. In fact, pretty much every element of the battery is made from thermoplastic, from the anode to the cathode.

When these thermoplastics are squished together into a battery, they resemble leather. And when they are made into thread, these batteries can be stitched into other fabrics, to be integrated into garments down the road.

As we march closer to a world where everything is aware, we are moving towards a world where computing is growing less and less familiar. Several companies have already developed smart clothing, shirts and pants that are capable of listening to your heart beat, monitor your temperature, check your stress level, etc. More mundane examples have seen companies sticking wifi analyzers on shirts or blinking LED’s to attract attention. But these garments, no matter how trivial, have all relied on a bulky battery pack that has limited their uptake. By being able to integrate the battery into the fabric itself, we could see a major uptake in the technology as tinkerers begin playing.

The team claims that their battery can deliver hundreds of volts, by far enough to power a phone and capable of handling a defibrilator. But there’s one small catch: as of right now, the batteries aren’t waterproof. Better hope you don’t sweat too much, then.

The Verge Photo by : Polytechnic School of Montreal