Customisable fabric-like power source shows promise for wearable electronics

Scientists have developed a new customisable, fabric-like power source that offers considerable potential in the design of wearable electronics.

Spearheaded by Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, the research has led to the creation of a new fast-charging supercapacitor that can be cut, folded or stretched without losing its function.

It uses a honeycomb-like structure and has the ability to store an electrical charge four times higher than most existing stretchable supercapacitors. When stretched to four times its original length, it maintains nearly 98 per cent of the ability to store energy, even after 10,000 stretch-and-release cycles.

Current stretchable supercapacitors are made using predetermined designs and structures, but the new device can be stretched multi-directionally, and can be mass-produced affordably using existing manufacturing technologies.

Dr Loh Xian Jun, senior scientist and head of the soft materials department at the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering at Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research, said: "Being highly stretchable, these flexible power sources are promising next-generation fabric energy storage devices that could be integrated into wearable electronics."

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