Wearable and Washable MnO₂-Zn Battery Packaged by Vacuum Sealing

Batteries are used in all types of electronic devices from conventional to advanced devices. Currently, batteries are evolving in the direction of extremely personalized yarn- or textile-structured textronic systems. However, the absence of a protective layer on such batteries is a critical limitation to their practical use. In this study, we developed a wearable and washable MnO₂-Zn textile battery that maintains its electrochemical capacity under various external environmental conditions through a vacuum-sealed packaging. The packaged textile battery was fabricated by vacuuming a polymer envelope containing the battery, followed by heat sealing with a vacuum packaging machine. The interior and exterior regions of the textile battery are completely separated by the packaging sheath to preclude leakage and intrusion of substances. The resulting packaged textile battery exhibits stable capacity retention performance under varying temperature and humidity; mechanical deformations due to bending, twisting, rubbing, and pressing; and several mechanical, chemical, and their combined washing cycles. On the basis of these demonstrations, we expect that our vacuum-packaged textile battery will offer new possibilities for practical and convenient use of textronics.