Researchers have created malleable “gelatinous batteries” inspired by electric eels, which could represent a major breakthrough in bioelectronics and soft robotics.
Made from hydrogels – polymer networks composed of more than 60% water – the self-healing batteries can stretch to more than 10 times their original length without affecting conductivity.
This is the first time that such advanced stretchability and conductivity have been combined in a single material.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have discovered that hydrogels, which usually hold a neutral charge, can become conductive if charged.
While conventional electronics use rigid metallic materials with electrons to carry charge, new gelatinous batteries use ions to carry charge, like electric eels.
“It is difficult to design a material that is both highly stretchable and highly conductive, because these two properties are usually at odds with each other,” said first author Stephen O’Neill.
“In general, conductivity decreases when a material is stretched.”
They also discovered that by changing the amount of salt in each gel, they can be transformed into tiny, sticky building blocks.
“And by changing the salt component of each gel, we can make them sticky and crush them together in multiple layers, so we can create a greater energy potential,” said co-author Dr. Jade McCune.
This gives gelatin batteries a promising future in many sectors, including biomedicine, because they mimic and can adapt to human tissues.
The results are published in the scientific journal Science Advances.