Recent progress on flexible lithium rechargeable batteries

TLDR

Flexible lithium‑ion batteries are increasingly important for future flexible electronic devices. This review examines how flexibility can be incorporated into each LIB component—active materials, electrolytes, separators, and current collectors. The authors describe methods for integrating these components into a single device and discuss the resulting changes in electrochemical and mechanical properties. They conclude by summarizing the key challenges facing the development of flexible LIBs.

Abstract

Flexible lithium ion batteries (LIBs) have received considerable attention as a key component to enable future flexible electronic devices. A number of designs for flexible LIBs have been reported in recent years; in this article, we review recent progress. We focus on how flexibility can be introduced into each component of the LIB, including the active materials, electrolytes, separators, and current collectors. Approaches to integrating each component into a single device are described and the corresponding changes in the electrochemical and mechanical properties are discussed. Finally, the key challenges in the development of flexible LIBs are summarized.