{"id":11728,"date":"2018-03-10T16:19:24","date_gmt":"2018-03-10T23:19:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=11728"},"modified":"2018-03-10T16:22:21","modified_gmt":"2018-03-10T23:22:21","slug":"get-a-spine-flexible-high-density-energy-storage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/get-a-spine-flexible-high-density-energy-storage\/","title":{"rendered":"Get a Spine! Flexible, High-Density Energy Storage"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Vertebrate Battery<\/h4>\n

\u201cProf. Yuan Yang of the engineering school at Columbia University (New York) modeled, designed, built, and fully evaluated a configuration that emulates the spine of vertebrates, while providing 85% of the energy density of a prismatic Li-ion cell with equivalent volume.\u201d According to Power Electronics.com<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Professor Yang\u2019s 14-member team, working in the impressively-named Center for Precision Assembly of Superstratic and Superatomic Solids, and \u00a0inspired by the flexibility of the human spine and its ability to repeatedly endure bending and twisting, designed a battery that emulates the characteristics of what is in essence a structural battery.\u00a0 We know from experience that our backbones can perform some pretty extraordinary twists and turns \u2013 witness the supple routines of gymnasts and Cirque de Soleil performers.<\/p>\n

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In the flexible spine-like battery, the vertebrae correspond to thick stacks of electrodes and soft marrow corresponds to unwound part that interconnects all the stacks (a). To fabricate the spine-like battery, multilayers of electrodes were first cut into designed shape; then strips extending out were wound around the backbone to form spine-like structure (b). (Credit: Yuan Yang\/Columbia Engineering)<\/p><\/div>\n

Our spines are not rigid assemblies, but a complex construction of solid parts (vertebrae), flexible bits between the vertebrae (disks), and a network of wiring (nerves), which transmit signals from our organs and extremities to the brain and back.\u00a0 The electrolytes carried in our blood and circulated throughout our body help power the constant brain\/body interactions.\u00a0 This pitifully lay version of things can give only a hint of what really goes on in this marvelously complex system.<\/p>\n

In the flexible spine-like battery, the vertebrae correspond to thick stacks of electrodes and soft marrow corresponds to the unwound part that interconnects all the stacks (a). To fabricate the spine-like battery, multilayers of electrodes were first cut into designed shape; then strips extending out were wound around the backbone to form spine-like structure (b). (Credit: Yuan Yang\/Columbia Engineering)
\nSufficient similarities between what happens in our bodies and what transpires in batteries led research Yang to devise a battery that allows the flexibility of the spine with a resilience that seems surprising, given the explosive characteristics of conventional lithium batteries.\u00a0 YouTube abounds in videos of batteries being subjected to various forms of bending and poking, with fiery results.<\/p>\n

Yang\u2019s YouTube evidence shows his batteries undergoing repeated flexing at high speed without crying \u201cUncle!\u201d as our own spines might.\u00a0 This durability would be of great use in wearable electronics, and might have a place in grander mobile structures.<\/p>\n