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Elastic Battery Developed in Sweden Can Be Shaped and Stretched Up to Twice Its Size Without Losing Efficiency, Paving the Way for More Adaptable Electronics.
A battery that moves with you, changes shape, and continues to function could transform how some electronics are designed. This possibility is being explored by researchers at Linköping University in Sweden. The team has created an elastic battery that can be deformed without compromising its functionality.
This innovation could be particularly useful for wearable devices. After all, gear worn on the body needs to accommodate constant movement. The results were published on April 11, 2025, in the journal Science Advances.
Technology Could Change Electronics
Conventional batteries tend to be rigid and bulky, potentially limiting the design of devices that need to be small, flexible, or body-adapted.
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The Swedish proposal aims to change this scenario. The material has a texture similar to toothpaste and can be shaped into various forms. According to the researchers, there’s even the possibility of using a 3D printer to mold the battery.
“The texture is somewhat like that of toothpaste. The material can, for example, be used in a 3D printer to shape the battery however you want. This opens the door to a new type of technology.”
Organic Material Helps With Flexibility
To create the structure, scientists used modified lignin, an organic material, to manufacture the components responsible for conducting positive and negative charges.
The connections and terminals are made with nanowires of nanographene and silver. Even though they contain metals, these materials are small enough to match the battery’s flexibility.
In practice, the elastic battery can maintain a large quantity of material while changing shape. The researchers compare this behavior to that of a water-filled balloon.
Can Be Stretched Up to Twice Its Size
The tests revealed another noteworthy result: the battery can be stretched up to double its original length while still functioning at the same efficiency. Furthermore, it withstands over 500 charge and discharge cycles while maintaining its performance.
“Batteries are the largest component in all electronics. Today, they are solid and quite bulky. However, with a soft and adaptable battery, there are no design limitations. It can be integrated into electronics in a completely different way, tailored to the user.”
Despite the potential, there is still a limitation. The current voltage is 0.9 volts. The next step will involve testing other chemical compounds to increase this value. According to Aiman Rahmanudin, “the battery is not perfect.”
