Hong Kong PolyU develops smaller and thinner 'fabric lithium battery'

According to the Hong Kong 'Ming Pao' website, in recent years, popular wearable electronic products, such as heating jackets and insoles, require lithium batteries. However, the quality of lithium batteries is hard and makes users feel uncomfortable. The Department of Textiles and Clothing of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed an ultra-soft 'fabric lithium battery' that can be folded and bent to a diameter of about 1 mm. It can be folded 1,000 times without detrimental performance. The team hopes that the 'fabric lithium battery' can be used in the future. For smart watch straps, heat-generating clothing, etc., the product is more durable while being comfortable to wear.

Professor Zheng Zijian of the Department of Textiles and Clothing at PolyU said that the team spent 3 years to complete the research and development of fabric lithium batteries. Ground is deposited on treated fabrics, such as cotton and carbon cloth, to 'make the material conductive' and replace the metal foil on the surface of general lithium batteries to act as a current collector and improve softness.

Zheng Zijian said that the fabric is smaller and thinner than traditional lithium batteries, and the thickness is less than 0.5 mm. He gave an example because the fabric lithium battery can be folded and bent, which is suitable for making smart watch straps. , Increase the power storage of smart watches, make the product more durable.

'In the past, these smart watches were fully charged and lasted for 1 day. In the future, with a strap made of lithium batteries, it can be used for up to 2 days before being charged.' Zheng Zijian said .