High-performance fully-stretchable solid-state lithium-ion battery with a nanowire-network configuration and crosslinked hydrogel

Abstract

Stretchable batteries are regarded as one of the most promising energy storage candidates for supplying power to wearable electronics and implantable medical systems. Recently, several research studies on flexible liquid-state batteries have been carried out, but the fabrication of high-performance stretchable solid-state batteries as steady and safe power sources is still a technical challenge. Here, a fully stretchable solid-state lithium-ion battery (FSSLIB) is produced by assembling all-intrinsically-stretchable aneroid components (current collector, anode/cathode, electrolyte), which were realized using crumpled-structured nanowires (NWs) and crosslink hydrogels. Both wrinkled NW interconnected with active material islands and hydrogel electrolytes with robust electrode interfaces endow the battery with electrochemical stability during large-scale stretching deformations. The assembled FSSLIB can achieve a 100% stretched state with a specific capacity of 119 mA h g⁻¹ and a 91.6% conservation rate after being subjected to tensile strain 250 times. The designed structure, dexterously utilizing the intrinsic mechanical and electrical properties of NWs and hydrogels, can effectively improve the device's tensile and storage capacity to afford the development of a material that has future potential for use in large-strain wearable and implantable energy electronics.