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Development of 3D-printed soft batteries using functionalized hydrogels

Research Project

Project/Area Number 20K05677
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Section一般
Review Section Basic Section 36020:Energy-related chemistry
Research InstitutionTohoku University

Principal Investigator

STAUSS SVEN  東北大学, 多元物質科学研究所, 准教授 (40549573)

Project Period (FY) 2020-04-01 – 2022-03-31
Project Status Discontinued (Fiscal Year 2021)
Budget Amount *help
¥4,290,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥990,000)
Fiscal Year 2022: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
Fiscal Year 2021: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
Fiscal Year 2020: ¥1,950,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥450,000)
KeywordsHydrogel battery / 3D Printing / Biofluid battery / Stretchable battery / hydrogel batteries / bio-fluid batteries / hydrogel inks / stretchable batteries / 3D printing / ソフト電池 / ハイドロゲル / 3D印刷プロセス
Outline of Research at the Start

In this research, soft batteries consisting of functionalized hydrogels that can be fabricated by 3D printing will be developed.
In the 1st year, the main focus will be on the synthesis and functionalization of the hydrogels and the assessment of their main characteristics (structure, morphology, and rheological properties).
In the 2nd year, complete batteries will be realized by a 3D printing process and their performance tested.
Finally in the 3rd year, more systematic testing of the batteries and their compatibility with different biological fluids will be carried out.

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

Several types of hydrogel-based and elastic batteries that can be activated by saliva, tear fluid, or sweat were realized. The outputs of batteries that were activated by artificial saliva typically reached values of about 0.98V. The electrode materials consisted of AgCl and Zn pastes embedded in polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA) hydrogels. In the case of batteries aimed at integration in soft contact lenses and using an artificial tear fluid (pH ~ 7) as electrolyte, similar voltage levels were reached. The AgCl | Zn batteries allowed achieving very stable outputs, even under different pH conditions, and operating times of several hours. For the stretchable batteries, the electrode inks contained microparticles of the active materials and conductive filler embedded in a hyperelastic polymer. The batteries were realized using a multimaterial 3D printing method, which allowed to fabricate complex cathode and anode geometries. The battery cells were activated by sweat and reached outputs of 1.5V. Encapsulation of the batteries with a hydrogel enabled more efficient absorption of the electrolyte and more stable battery operation over several hours.
In summary, different types of biofluid-activated batteries based on functionalized hydrogels and elastic pastes were fabricated using 3D printing methods and their stable operation demonstrated in different artificial biofluids. The combination of hydrogel-based and elastic batteries developed in this project is expected to enable easier integration with artificial organs, drug delivery devices, and on-skin sensors and actuators.

Report

(2 results)
  • 2021 Annual Research Report
  • 2020 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (1 results)

All 2021

All Journal Article (1 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 1 results,  Peer Reviewed: 1 results)

  • [Journal Article] Direct Printable Proton-Conducting Nanocomposite Inks for All-Quasi-Solid-State Electrochemical Capacitors2021

    • Author(s)
      Iwase Kazuyuki、Stauss Sven、Gambe Yoshiyuki、Miyazaki Ryuichi、Honma Itaru
    • Journal Title

      ACS Applied Energy Materials

      Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Pages: 3651-3659

    • DOI

      10.1021/acsaem.1c00076

    • Related Report
      2020 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Int'l Joint Research

URL: 

Published: 2020-04-28   Modified: 2022-12-28  

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