Ultra-thin flexible screen printed rechargeable polymer battery for wearable electronic applications

Abstract This research has demonstrated how an ultra-thin rechargeable battery technology has been fabricated using screen printing technology. The screen printing process enabled the sequential deposition of current collector, electrode and separator/electrolyte materials onto a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate in order to form both flexible and rechargeable electrodes for a battery application. The anode and cathode fabricated were based on the conducting poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophen): poly (styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) which were combined to form the electrodes. The difference in the oxidation level between the two electrodes produced an open circuit voltage of 0.60 V and displayed a practical specific capacity of 5.5 mAh g −1 . The battery developed had an active surface area of 400 mm 2 and a device thickness of 440 μm. The chemistry developed during this study displayed long-term cycling potential and proves the stability of the cells for continued usage. This technology has direct uses in future personal wearable electronic devices.