An Electrode-Less Fiber Battery With 600 Wh/L-Level Volumetric Energy Density Enabled by Dynamic Deposition Chemistry

Area of Science:

• Materials Science and Engineering
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage Devices

Background:

• Aqueous fiber batteries are crucial for safe, cost-effective, and eco-friendly wearable electronics.
• Current fiber batteries suffer from low volumetric energy density (<100 Wh/L) due to inefficient electrode design and limited flexibility.
• These limitations hinder the widespread adoption of fiber batteries in practical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an ultrathin, electrode-less fiber battery with enhanced volumetric energy density and mechanical flexibility.
• To overcome the inherent limitations of pre-coated fiber electrodes in conventional designs.
• To establish a new material-efficient architectural paradigm for high-performance fiber batteries.

Main Methods:

• Introduced dynamic deposition chemistry, dissolving redox-active materials directly into the electrolyte.
• Eliminated the need for pre-coated electrodes, minimizing inactive material volume.
• Facilitated on-demand electrochemical deposition during battery operation.

Main Results:

• Achieved a high volumetric energy density of 612 Wh/L, a significant improvement over existing technologies.
• Fabricated an ultrathin fiber battery with a diameter of 130 µm.
• Reduced dynamic stiffness by three orders of magnitude compared to pre-coated fiber batteries, enhancing flexibility.

Conclusions:

• Unveiled a novel technological pathway for high volumetric energy density fiber batteries.
• Established a material-efficient architectural paradigm suitable for integration into high-performance textiles.
• Paved the way for advanced, seamlessly integrated power sources in future wearable devices.