Flexible Battery technology offers high energy density and reliable electrochemical performance across different energy storage setups. Analysts anticipate its market value to hit US$240 million by 2027, with promising applications locally in medical wearables, biomedical sensors, flexible displays, and smartwatches.

Conventional batteries with rigid designs restrict the shapes and flexibility of electronic devices. Our body's joints, like knuckles, exemplify exceptional flexibility, owing to their specialized structures enabling smooth rotation. Inspired by this, flexible lithium-ion batteries have been developed to mimic this natural flexibility.

Flexible batteries utilize lightweight materials like flexible polymers and thin metal foils, enabling them to bend and deform without sacrificing performance. This suggests that upcoming electronic devices can become slimmer, lighter, and more adaptable. Flexible batteries, unlike their traditional counterparts, can endure bending, folding, and stretching. They're also resilient against wear, water, and flames, possess self-repair capabilities, and are resistant to impacts.

The forthcoming advancements in flexible battery technology

With its high energy, remarkable flexibility, and focus on environmental friendliness and safety, flexible batteries hold immense potential for use in various sectors including consumer electronics, healthcare, Internet of Things, aerospace, and wearable devices, paving the way for numerous applications.

- Flexible batteries have the potential to drive the advancement of foldable and rollable displays, offering consumers a fresh and innovative mobile experience tailored to their needs.

- Flexible batteries have the potential to enhance the flexibility of medical devices. For instance, wearable electrocardiograms, pacemakers, cochlear implants, bendable endoscopes, and other devices can be better suited to accommodate the curves of patients' bodies and their activity requirements.

- Flexible thin-film batteries offer versatile applications in electronic tags, catering to needs in security monitoring, radio frequency identification, cold chain logistics, and warehouse management scenarios.

- Flexible batteries can also find utility in smart packaging, offering power support where needed.

Challenges encountered by flexible batteries

During practical use, flexible batteries undergo various bending, stretching, and other deformations. These actions can alter the microstructure within the conductive material, impacting its conductivity and stability. Particularly in high-strain conditions, certain conductive materials may fracture or oxidize, leading to diminished battery performance and lifespan.

Designing stable conductive materials to withstand complex deformation environments is a pressing issue that requires attention. During the material selection and preparation process, factors such as the mechanical properties and durability must be thoroughly considered to ensure that the conductive materials can maintain consistent performance over extended periods of use.

Developing flexible lithium-ion batteries capable of adapting to multiple deformations while maintaining high mechanical resistance and energy density remains a significant challenge. The urgent need for high energy density in wearable electronic products, mobile devices, and electric vehicles, coupled with the growing demand for lightweight, portable, and flexible energy storage solutions, has spurred widespread research into the next generation of flexible batteries.