Jelly Batteries

 


Information released from the University of Cambridge in mid July reports new battery technology is on the horizon.

The scientists in the study were influenced by a well-known sea creature. Electric eels have modified muscle cells which can stun their prey. These muscle cells are called electrolytes. Just the same as electrolytes, The jellylike battery materials have a layered structure. The structure makes them capable of delivering an electric current.

A battery in this study can be stretched to over 10 times it’s original length! The stretch does not affect its electrical conductivity. This is the very first time conductivity and stretch have been combined in a single material. 

Reported in Science Advances.

The jelly batteries are considered hydrogels. A Hydrogel is a lattice of polymers that contain over 60% water. The polymers are added together by on/off interactions. These interactions are reversible and can control the jellies mechanized attributes.

Hydrogels are entirely useful for soft robotics and bio electronics- however the proper material must by both stretchy and conductive. 

“ It’s difficult to design a material that is both highly stretchable and highly conductive, since these two properties are normally at odds with one another,” states Stephen O’Neil from Cambridge University. “Typically Conductivity decreases when a material is stretched.”

Dr. Jade McCune, Also from Cambridge reports, “ Normally hydrogels are made of polymers that have a neutral charge, but if we charge them, they can become conductive. . . And by changing the salt component of each gel, we can make them sticky and squished together in multiple layers, so we can build up a larger energy potential.”

Normally electronics use metal materials that have electrons as charge carriers. The jelly batteries use ions to carry charge. This is exactly like the electric eel. Reversible bonds can form between the Different layers of hydrogels. 

The hydrogel is stuck together because they use molecules called cucubiturils. These molecules are considered molecular handcuffs. The adhesion of layers caused by the cucubitirils Allows for the stretch of the material without any loss of conductivity. 

The future uses of jelly batteries is interesting, because they are soft and can be molded to human tissue.

Additionally, the hydrogels are very tough. They can tolerate being squished without loss of their original shape. The hydrogels can self heal when damaged.

More research is being planned on the living for a range of medical applications! 


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