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Printable Batteries Should Arrive Next Year
FullBandwidth writes "Paper-thin batteries that can be printed onto greeting cards or other flexible substrates have been demonstrated at Fraunhofer Research Institution for Electronic Nano Systems in Germany. The batteries have a relatively short life span, as the anode and cathode materials dissipate over time. However, they contain no hazardous materials."
Some references would probably be in order: Here are 52 in series. This is 160(warning, listening at nonzero volume might make you wish that the experiment had been less survivable...)
On the plus side, the ability of a 9 volt to deliver high currents isn't all that hot(compared to, say, a microwave transformer) so you'd be less likely to suffer massive damage from thermal effects, unless the lot caught fire. A similarly long chain of lead acid batteries would be substantially nastier in that regard.
My expectation is that the only way batteries are going to able to really compete with liquid fuels as an energy storage mechanism for vehicles is through some sort of comprehensive and mandatory recycling program. And I'm not just talking about just the actual batteries but rather a complete infrastructure and financing system which makes it difficult and expensive to ignore, opt-out or avoid. Otherwise, the whole thing will be an expensive and short lived boondoggle.
Having said that, I'd love to be able to build a 3D printing machine that could produce batteries and fuel cells.
Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
Actually, wouldn't this sort of battery make a letter bomb a lot harder to detect?
Infinite Power Solutions is already making a thin-film lithium ion battery that is extremely rechargeable. No need to wait for this technology!
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