Researchers in South Korea have developed a flexible battery that could be a step towards the development of flexible smartphones.
The team, from the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, say
they have developed a "fluid-like" polymer electrolyte that is more flexible
than a traditional battery.
The new system is, according to the researchers, more stable than conventional
batteries.
A spokesman for the Korean science ministry told
the Korean Joongang Daily: "Conventional lithium-ion batteries that use
liquefied electrolytes had safety problems as the film that separates the
electrolytes may melt under heat, in which case the positive and negative
elements may come in contact, causing an explosion."
Last week, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Samsung
showed off a prototype for a flexible smartphone, which it calls Youm.
On stage at CES the prototype phone was shown being flexed and bent without
any conspicuous colour distortion, with other pre-recorded demonstrations
shown on film.
Corning, the maker of Gorilla Glass, which is widely used across mobile
phones, is also working on a flexible glass product called Willow.
It is likely to be available in time for use on devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the forthcoming iPhone, but will not offer the flexibility of plastic. Subsequent mobile phone releases, therefore, may not use as much glass and may instead move to flexible displays.
It is likely to be available in time for use on devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the forthcoming iPhone, but will not offer the flexibility of plastic. Subsequent mobile phone releases, therefore, may not use as much glass and may instead move to flexible displays.