The flexible device, made using non-flammable electrolytes and organic composites, can be decomposed without incurring the costs associated with recycling or disposing of metal based batteries.
Dr Geetha Srinivasan said: “In medical devices, such as pacemakers and defibrillators, there are two implants; one which is fitted in the heart and another which holds metal based rigid batteries – this is implanted under the skin.
“The implant under the skin can cause patients discomfort. For this reason, batteries need to be compatible to the human body and, ideally, we would like them to be flexible so that they can adapt to body shapes.”
The energy storage device features polymer-biopolymer composites as electrodes and ionic liquids as electrolytes.
The researchers also believe their device could provide solutions in wearable electronics and portable electronic devices, making these more flexible.
Dr Srinivasan noted: “There is also opportunity to fabricate task-specific supercapacitors using environmentally friendly methods, which is important if they are to be produced on a large scale – for example, in portable personal electronic devices.”
