Researchers have developed a “highly stretchable rechargeable lithium ion battery” for the next generation of wearable electronics

The next generation of wearable electronic devices may carry one new innovation in tow: stretchable lithium-ion batteries. Currently, the typical wearable is powered by conventional types of batteries, meaning that devices usually have to be built around the battery itself. Batteries count as one of the major components of most electronic devices, so this really shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.

Now a group of researchers in Korea have managed to successfully develop the world’s first stretchable aqueous lithium-ion batteries, possibly paving the way for better designed electronics, and more advanced wearables in particular. The breakthrough in battery technology was the result of a research effort spearheaded by Professor Soojin Park in the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, who collaborated with Professors Kwanyong Seo and So Youn Kim at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in Korea.