Researchers Develop Solid But Flexible Electrolyte For Bendable Batteries

Posted by Unknown on Wednesday January 16, 2013 @01:51AM from the stretch-armstrong-2.0 dept.

hypnosec writes "Korean scientists have developed a 'fluid-like' polymer electrolyte used in lithium-ion batteries that would pave way for flexible batteries and flexible smartphones. The discovery was made by a joint team of researchers that was led by Professor Lee Sang-young of Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology. The new electrolyte, though flexible, is made of solid materials hence making the batteries more stable than the lithium-ion batteries used today." Paper, but full text is paywalled.

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Re:Why do we need flexible phones? by MacTO · 2013-01-16 02:39 · Score: 4, Insightful

The talk of rolling and folding is just to get people excited.
A far more realistic use would be to make more durable devices: something that you can put into your purse or pocket and not have to worry about as much. (Example: the screen won't crack if the case is twisted a bit.) I'm guessing that it will also allow for much thinner devices, since they don't have to worry about making rigid cases.