Multifunctional batteries: transparent, degradable and stretchable

Multifunctional batteries are energy storage devices with additional properties such as optical transparency, mechanical compliance, or chemical degradability. Bendability/stretchability makes batteries suitable for flexible electronics and wearables, transparency is desired for implementation of batteries into screens or smart windows, and degradability has the potential to reduce electronic waste. Conventional batteries do not meet any of these characteristics, and therefore, the entire battery architecture has to be redesigned. Our group works on all battery components, their processing and assembly into cells, and electrochemical characterization. Special emphasis is placed on the development of non-hazardous, low-cost, and disposable batteries that feature high loadings of electroactive materials and highly conformal packaging designs.